U.S. patent application number 11/810361 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-31 for tag-label producing apparatus.
Invention is credited to Akira Ito, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Kiyoiohi Ohta, Shiro Yamada.
Application Number | 20080025778 11/810361 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38529720 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080025778 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ito; Akira ; et al. |
January 31, 2008 |
Tag-label producing apparatus
Abstract
In a tag-label producing apparatus for producing an RFID label
using a tag-label tape having an adhesive layer, a separation
sheet, and an RFID circuit element, a tape feeding roller, a loop
antenna for information transmission/reception, and a print head
are provided, in which a tag print corresponding to
transmission/reception contents by the loop antenna is carried out
by a control circuit on a tag print area provided at a position
corresponding to the RFID circuit element in a cover film, and the
print head and the tape feeding roller are controlled in
coordination so that a predetermined pattern print is carried out
on a front print area located on the tape tip end side than the tag
print area.
Inventors: |
Ito; Akira; (Ashiya-shi,
JP) ; Ohta; Kiyoiohi; (Chiryu-shi, JP) ;
Nagae; Tsuyoshi; (Kasugai-shi, JP) ; Yamada;
Shiro; (Kasugai-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DAY PITNEY LLP
7 TIMES SQUARE
NEW YORK
NY
10036-7311
US
|
Family ID: |
38529720 |
Appl. No.: |
11/810361 |
Filed: |
June 5, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
400/76 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41J 11/46 20130101;
G06K 17/0025 20130101; B41J 11/703 20130101; G06K 17/00 20130101;
B41J 3/50 20130101; B41J 11/666 20130101; B41J 3/4075 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
400/076 |
International
Class: |
B41J 11/42 20060101
B41J011/42 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 7, 2006 |
JP |
2006-158994 |
Jun 12, 2006 |
JP |
2006-162724 |
Jun 12, 2006 |
JP |
2006-162725 |
Claims
1. A tag-label producing apparatus comprising: a label producing
portion capable of producing an RFID label, including at least a
feeding portion that feeds a tag-label tape having a
print-receiving medium layer and an RFID circuit element provided
with an IC circuit part that stores information and an antenna that
transmitting/receiving information, a communicating portion that
performs transmitting/receiving the information contactlessly with
said RFID circuit element, and a printing portion that carries out
predetermined print on said print-receiving medium layer; and a
margin utilization processing portion that performs predetermined
processing for utilizing a margin area where the print by said
printing portion is not carried out in said print-receiving medium
layer at the time of producing said RFID label.
2. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said feeding portion feeds the tag-label tape provided with said
print-receiving medium layer, an affixing adhesive layer for
affixing said print-receiving medium layer to an affixing target, a
separation material layer covering said affixing adhesive layer,
and said RFID circuit element; and said margin utilization
processing portion includes a control device that controls said
printing portion and said feeding portion in coordination so that
tag print corresponding to the transmission/reception contents by
said communicating portion is carried out on a first print area
provided at a position corresponding to said RFID circuit element
in said print-receiving medium layer, and predetermined pattern
print is carried out on a second print area located at a tape tip
end side than said first print area in said print-receiving medium
layer.
3. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 2, further
comprising a first half-cutter that cuts the layers other than said
separation material layer of said tag-label tape between said first
print area and said second print area of said tag-label tape.
4. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:
said control device controls said printing portion and said feeding
portion in coordination so that predetermined pattern print is
carried out on a third print area located on a side opposite to
said second print area than said first print area in said
print-receiving medium layer.
5. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:
said control device controls said printing portion and said feeding
portion in coordination so that said print patterns different from
each other are printed on said second print area and said third
print area.
6. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 4, further
comprising a second half-cutter that cuts the layers other than
said separation material layer of said tag-label tape between said
first print area and said third print area of said tag-label
tape.
7. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:
said control device controls said printing portion and said feeding
portion in coordination so that label-related information relating
to production of said RFID label is printed on said second print
area or said third print area as said pattern print.
8. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:
said control device controls said printing portion and said feeding
portion in coordination so that information on production date and
time when the RFID label is produced is printed as said
label-related information.
9. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:
said control device controls said printing portion and said feeding
portion in coordination so that information on time of use to be
notified to a user at use of the RFID label is printed as said
label-related information.
10. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 9,
wherein: said control device controls said printing portion and
said feeding portion in coordination so that information on
cautions for users of the RFID label is printed as said information
on time of use.
11. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 7, further
comprising an operation signal input portion that inputs an
operation signal of an operator, wherein said control device
includes a pattern setting portion that variably sets the contents
of said pattern print according to said operation signal input with
said operation signal input portion.
12. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 11,
wherein: said operation signal input portion inputs a selection
signal from a plurality of said label-related information set in
advance as said operation signal; and said pattern setting portion
sets the contents of said pattern print according to said selection
signal input with said operation signal input portion.
13. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 11,
wherein: said pattern setting portion makes setting by limiting the
contents of said pattern print so that it is contained in a range
of said second print area.
14. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein: said control device controls said printing portion and
said feeding portion in coordination so that said print pattern is
printed repeatedly for a plurality of times on said second print
area or said third print area.
15. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein: said control device controls said printing portion and
said feeding portion in coordination so that a print given
decoration including at least one addition or change of
predetermined line, colors, designs, icons, marks, and symbols in
said print pattern or its peripheral area is carried out on said
second print area or said third print area.
16. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 2, further
comprising a detecting device that detects an identifier for
detection at a position corresponding to said first print area in
the tag-label tape.
17. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 2, further
comprising a bonding device that bonds a base layer for mounting
said RFID circuit element to said print-receiving medium layer
through a bonding adhesive layer.
18. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein: said feeding portion feeds a tag tape included in said
tag-label tape that has said RFID circuit element; said printing
portion carries out predetermined print on said print-receiving
medium layer provided at said tag tape or a print-receiving tape as
said print-receiving medium layer to be bonded to said tag tape;
said label producing portion can produce both an RFID label
including said RFID circuit element and an ordinary label not
provided with said RFID circuit element; and said tag-label
producing apparatus further comprises a JOB accepting portion that
accepts a producing operation signal for producing said RFID label
or said ordinary label; and a JOB memory portion that sequentially
stores JOB identification information, label length information and
an RFID tag information identification signal corresponding to said
producing operation signal accepted by said JOB accepting portion;
said margin utilization processing portion includes a first JOB
allocating portion that sequentially allocates said JOB
identification information, said label length information and said
RFID tag information identification signal stored by said JOB
memory portion in a predetermined order; and said tag-label
producing apparatus further comprises a first instruction signal
output portion that generates and outputs a first instruction
signal for instructing label production to said label producing
portion according to the allocated state by said first JOB
allocating portion.
19. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 18,
wherein: said first JOB allocating portion allocates said JOB
identification information, said label length information and said
RFID tag information identification signal relating to said
producing operation signal having said RFID tag information at
allocated positions corresponding to arrangement information of
said RFID circuit element in said tag tape.
20. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 19,
wherein: said first JOB allocating portion allocates said JOB
identification information, said label length information and said
RFID tag information identification signal relating to said
producing operation signal not having said RFID tag information at
allocated positions not overlapping the allocated positions
corresponding to arrangement information of said RFID circuit
element in said tag tape.
21. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 18,
further comprising a determining portion that determines if the
allocated state by said first JOB allocating portion satisfies a
predetermined condition or not based on the arrangement information
of said RFID circuit element in said tag tape, wherein said first
instruction signal output portion outputs said first instruction
signal according to a determination result by said determining
portion.
22. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 21,
wherein: said first JOB allocating portion carries out said
allocation by the unit of a predetermined length based on the
arrangement information of said RFID circuit element in said tag
tape.
23. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 21,
further comprising a forced instruction signal output portion that
generates and outputs an instruction signal for instructing label
production to said label producing portion regardless of the
determination result in said determining portion.
24. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 18,
further comprising an allocation information output portion that
outputs allocation information by said first JOB allocating
portion.
25. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 18,
further comprising a label-length information output portion that
outputs length information of said RFID label or said ordinary
label which can be produced by said label producing portion
according to the allocation information by said first JOB
allocating portion.
26. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 18,
further comprising an end notice output portion that outputs a
production end notice correspondingly when the label production by
said label producing portion is finished based on the instruction
signal from said first instruction signal output portion or said
forced instruction signal output portion.
27. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 18,
wherein: said JOB memory portion is a non-volatile memory
portion.
28. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 18,
wherein: said JOB accepting portion is configured capable of
accepting said producing operation signal from a plurality of
operation terminals provided outside said tag-label producing
apparatus.
29. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 18,
further comprising an operating device which can be operated by an
operator, said JOB accepting portion accepts said producing
operation signal from said operating device.
30. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein: said feeding portion feeds a tag tape included in said
tag-label tape that has said RFID circuit element; said printing
portion carries out predetermined print on said print-receiving
medium layer provided at said tag tape or a print-receiving tape as
said print-receiving medium layer to be bonded to said tag tape;
said label producing portion can produce both an RFID label
including said RFID circuit element and an ordinary label not
provided with said RFID circuit element; The tag-label producing
apparatus further comprises a JOB accepting portion that accepts a
producing operation signal of said RFID label or said ordinary
label; and said margin utilization processing portion includes a
label-length display signal generating portion that generates a
label-length display signal for displaying label length information
of the producing operation signal which can be newly accepted by
said JOB accepting portion.
31. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 30,
further comprising a second JOB allocating portion that allocates
sequentially said label length information, JOB identification
information and RFID tag information identification signal
corresponding to said producing operation signal accepted by said
JOB accepting portion in a predetermined order; and a second
instruction signal output portion that generates and outputs a
second instruction signal for instructing the label production to
said label producing portion according to the allocated state by
the second JOB allocating portion, wherein said label-length
display signal generating portion generates said label-length
display signal according to the allocated state of said second JOB
allocating portion.
32. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 31,
further comprising an allocation history display signal generating
portion that generates an allocation history display signal for
displaying allocation history information by said second JOB
allocating portion.
33. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 31,
further comprising an end notice output portion that outputs a
production end notice correspondingly when the label production by
said label producing portion is finished based on said second
instruction signal from said second instruction signal output
portion.
34. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 30,
further comprising a third instruction signal output portion that
generates and outputs a third instruction signal for instructing
label production to said label producing portion correspondingly
when said producing operation signal is accepted by said JOB
accepting portion, wherein said label-length display signal
generating portion generates said label-length display signal
according to said producing operation signal accepted by said JOB
accepting portion and said third instruction signal.
35. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 34,
further comprising a production history display signal generating
portion that generates a production history display signal for
displaying production history information by said label producing
portion.
36. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 32,
wherein: said allocation history display signal generating portion
or said production history display signal generating portion
generates said allocation history display signal or said production
history display signal for displaying a substantially band-state
icons, marks, and symbols whose length changes according to
progress of said allocation history or said production history.
37. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 32,
wherein: said allocation history display signal generating portion
or said production history display signal generating portion
generates said allocation history display signal or said production
history display signal for displaying a plurality of substantially
band-state icons, marks, and symbols respectively corresponding to
said allocation history or said production history.
38. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 30,
wherein: said JOB accepting portion is configured capable of
accepting said producing operation signal from a plurality of
operation terminals provided outside said tag-label producing
apparatus; and said label-length display signal generating portion
generates said label-length display signal for displaying the label
length information of the producing operation signal which can be
newly accepted by said JOB accepting portion on a terminal-side
display device provided at said plurality of operation
terminals.
39. The tag-label producing apparatus according to claim 30,
further comprising an operating device capable of operating by an
operator, and an apparatus-side display device that executes
predetermined display to the operator, wherein said JOB accepting
portion accepts said producing operation signal from said operating
device; and said label-length display signal generating portion
generates said label-length display signal for displaying the label
length information of the producing operation signal which can be
newly accepted by said JOB accepting portion on said apparatus-side
display device.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from JP 2006-158994, filed
Jun. 7, 2006, JP 2006-162724, filed Jun. 12, 2006, and JP
2006-162725, filed Jun. 12, 2006 the contents of which are hereby
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] The present disclosure relates to a tag-label producing
apparatus provided with an RFID circuit element capable of
transmission/reception of information with the outside through
wireless communication.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A label producing apparatus is known in which a label medium
roll around which a print-receiving tape is wound is stored in a
cartridge, desired characters are printed while the print-receiving
tape is being fed out of the label medium roll so as to be
discharged in the label state. In this label producing apparatus,
predetermined print is carried out on the print-receiving tape
while the print-receiving tape is being fed out of the label medium
roll and the printed print-receiving tape and a tape to be bonded
thereto are bonded together so as to produce a label.
[0006] On the other hand, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)
systems for transmitting/receiving information contactlessly (an
electromagnetic coupling method using a coil, an electromagnetic
induction method, an electric wave method or the like) with an RFID
circuit element for storing information are known.
[0007] A tag-label producing apparatus for producing an RFID label
in which the RFID circuit element is inserted in the label has been
already proposed. Such a tag-label producing apparatus as described
in JP,A,2005-141407 or JP,A,2006-99502 is known.
[0008] In the prior art described in JP,A,2005-141407, while a
band-state tag tape (base tape) on which RFID circuit elements
provided with an IC circuit part and a tag antenna (antenna
portion) are disposed with a predetermined interval is fed out of a
tag tape roll (first roll), tag print (print information)
corresponding to information transmission/reception contents, which
will be described later, is printed by a printing portion (thermal
head) on the print-receiving tape (cover film) fed out of a
print-receiving tape roll (second roll). Then, after the printed
print-receiving tape and the tag tape are bonded together to form a
tag-label tape, transmission/reception of predetermined information
(RFID tag information) corresponding to the tag print is performed
with the IC circuit part by an apparatus antenna. After that, the
tag-label tape for which printing and information
transmission/reception have been finished is cut off (at the label
rear end) to a predetermined length by a cutting means (cutter),
and the RFID label is completed.
[0009] In the prior art described in JP,A,2006-99502, while a
band-state tag tape (base tape) on which RFID circuit elements
provided with an IC circuit part and an antenna are disposed with a
predetermined interval is fed out of a tag tape roll (first roll),
print corresponding to information transmission/reception contents,
which will be described later, is printed by a printing portion
(thermal head) on the print-receiving tape (cover film) fed out of
a print-receiving tape roll (second roll). Then, after the printed
print-receiving tape and the tag tape are bonded together to form a
tag-label tape, transmission/reception of predetermined information
(RFID tag information) corresponding to the tag print is performed
with the IC circuit part by a communicating portion. After that,
the tag-label tape for which printing and information
transmission/reception have been finished is cut off (at the label
rear end) to a predetermined length by a cutting means (cutter),
and the RFID label is completed.
[0010] In the prior art described in JP,A,2005-141407, since
operation is performed in the order of tag printing by a printing
portion, information transmission/reception by an apparatus
antenna, and cutting of a tag-label tape by a cutter at a label
rear end, arrangement is made in the order of the printing
portion>a cutting means->the apparatus antenna along the tape
feeding direction. Therefore, when the production of the precedent
RFID label is completed and the rear end thereof is cut off by the
cutter, the tip end of the subsequent RFID label located at the
cutting portion has already passed the position of the printing
portion. Thus, even if the subsequent production of the RFID label
is started and the tag print corresponding to the
transmission/reception contents is started, at least a section from
the cutting portion to the print start position becomes a non-print
section (margin area), which is not effectively utilized as a print
area but wasted.
[0011] On the other hand, diversified applications are in demand
with recent expansion of use of the RFID label, and there is an
emerging need that labels should be produced while changing the
printing states in many ways. However, with the prior art described
in JP,A,2006-99502, since the RFID circuit elements are arranged
with a predetermined equal interval on the tag tape, the length of
the produced RFID label is fixedly determined. Therefore, if the
number of characters to be printed is small, a margin portion other
than the print-receiving portion gets larger than the label length,
and this margin is not utilized as a surplus portion, which is
wasteful.
[0012] As mentioned above, in any of the above prior arts, the
margin portion is not effectively utilized but wasted.
SUMMARY
[0013] A first object of the present disclosure is to provide a
tag-label producing apparatus which can effectively utilize a
margin portion on which print is not carried out.
[0014] A second object of the present disclosure is to provide a
tag-label producing apparatus which can effectively utilize a
portion other than an area for tag print corresponding to
transmission/reception contents without wasting it as a margin.
[0015] A third object of the present disclosure is to provide a
tag-label producing apparatus which can effectively utilize a
surplus portion of a tag tape without wasting it.
Means for Solving the Problem
[0016] In order to achieve the above first object, a first aspect
is a tag-label producing apparatus comprising a label producing
portion capable of producing an RFID label, including at least a
feeding portion that feeds a tag-label tape having a
print-receiving medium layer and an RFID circuit element provided
with an IC circuit part that stores information and an antenna that
transmitting/receiving information, a communicating portion that
performs transmitting/receiving the information contactlessly with
the RFID circuit element, and a printing portion that carries out
predetermined print on the print-receiving medium layer, and a
margin utilization processing portion that performs predetermined
processing for utilizing a margin area where the print by the
printing portion is not carried out in the print-receiving medium
layer at the time of producing the RFID label.
[0017] In the first aspect of the present application,
predetermined print is carried out by the printing portion on the
print-receiving medium layer in the label producing portion, the
tag-label tape including the print-receiving medium layer and the
RFID circuit element is fed by the feeding portion, information is
transmitted/received by the communicating portion with the RFID
circuit element, and the RFID label is produced using this
tag-label tape. At this time, the margin utilization processing for
utilizing the margin area on which the print is not carried out in
the print-receiving medium layer is performed. By which, the margin
portion can be effectively utilized at the time of tag-label
production.
[0018] In order to achieve the first and second objects, according
to second aspect, in the tag-label producing apparatus according to
the first aspect, the feeding portion feeds the tag-label tape
provided with the print-receiving medium layer, an affixing
adhesive layer for affixing the print-receiving medium layer to an
affixing target, a separation material layer covering the affixing
adhesive layer, and the RFID circuit element, and the margin
utilization processing portion includes a control device that
controls the printing portion and the feeding portion in
coordination so that tag print corresponding to the
transmission/reception contents by the communicating portion is
carried out on a first print area provided at a position
corresponding to the RFID circuit element in the print-receiving
medium layer, and predetermined pattern print is carried out on a
second print area located at a tape tip end side than the first
print area in the print-receiving medium layer.
[0019] The tag print corresponding to the transmission/reception
contents with the RFID circuit element of a communicating portion
is carried out on the first print area of the print-receiving
medium layer, and a tag-label tape in the laminated structure
including three layers of the print-receiving medium layer, the
affixing adhesive layer for affixing it to the affixing target, and
the separation material layer covering it and the RFID circuit
element is fed by the feeding portion, and the RFID label is
produced using this tag-label tape. At this time, in the second
aspect of the present application, by controlling the feeding
portion and printing portion in coordination by the control device,
the second print area is provided at the tape tip end side other
than the first print area on which the above tag print is carried
out, the predetermined pattern print is carried out on the second
print area. At a result, the portion other than the first print
area on which the tag print corresponding to the
transmission/reception contents can be effectively utilized without
wasting it as a margin and can be utilized for various
applications.
[0020] In order to achieve the first and third objects, according
to third aspect, in the tag-label producing, apparatus according to
the first aspect, the feeding portion feeds a tag tape included in
the tag-label tape that has the RFID circuit element, the printing
portion carries out predetermined print on the print-receiving
medium layer provided at the tag tape or a print-receiving tape as
the print-receiving medium layer to be bonded to the tag tape, the
label producing portion can produce both an RFID label including
the RFID circuit element and an ordinary label not provided with
the RFID circuit element, and the tag-label producing apparatus
further comprises a JOB accepting portion that accepts a producing
operation signal for producing the RFID label or the ordinary
label, and a JOB memory portion that sequentially stores JOB
identification information, label length information and an RFID
tag information identification signal corresponding to the
producing operation signal accepted by the JOB accepting portion,
the margin utilization processing portion includes a first JOB
allocating portion that sequentially allocates the JOB
identification information, the label length information and the
RFID tag information identification signal stored by the JOB memory
portion in a predetermined order, and a first instruction signal
output portion is provided that generates and outputs a first
instruction signal for instructing label production to the label
producing portion according to the allocated state by the first JOB
allocating portion.
[0021] In the third aspect of the present application, the
producing operation signal of the RFID label or the ordinary label
corresponding to the operation input by an operator is input at the
JOB accepting portion, and the label length information
corresponding to the producing operation signal is sequentially
stored in the JOB memory portion together with the JOB
identification information and the RFID tag information
identification signal. Then, the label length information of each
label producing operation signal sequentially stored is
sequentially allocated by the first JOB allocating portion together
with the JOB identification information and the RFID tag
information identification signal in a predetermined order, and
according to this allocated state, the first instruction signal is
generated by the first instruction signal output portion for
instructing label production and output to the label producing
portion.
[0022] In the third aspect of the present application as above,
label production is not immediately started by each operation input
by an operator but the label is produced after the label length
information of the producing operation signal is allocated
according to the allocated state. At a result, if a surplus portion
is generated in the tag tape after the label length information of
the RFID label is allocated for producing the RFID label, at least
one piece of label length information of the ordinary label can be
allocated to the surplus length portion. As a result, the surplus
portion other than the portion to be used for producing the RFID
label in the tag tape is not wasted but can be effectively utilized
for producing the ordinary label.
[0023] In order to achieve the first and third objects, according
to fourth aspect, in the tag-label producing apparatus according to
the first aspect, the feeding portion feeds a tag tape included in
the tag-label tape that has the RFID circuit element, the printing
portion carries out predetermined print on the print-receiving
medium layer provided at the tag tape or a print-receiving tape as
the print-receiving medium layer to be bonded to the tag tape, the
label producing portion can produce both an RFID label including
the RFID circuit element and an ordinary label not provided with
the RFID circuit element, and a JOB accepting portion that accepts
a producing operation signal of the RFID label or the ordinary
label is provided, and the margin utilization processing portion
includes a label-length display signal generating portion that
generates a label-length display signal for displaying label length
information of the producing operation signal which can be newly
accepted by the JOB accepting portion.
[0024] According to the fourth aspect of the present application,
the RFID label or the ordinary label producing operation signal
corresponding to the operation input by an operator is accepted by
the JOB accepting portion. Then, in the tag-label producing
portion, the tag tape provided with the RFID circuit element is fed
by the feeding portion, predetermined print is carried out by the
printing portion to the tag tape or the print-receiving tape, and
information transmission/reception is performed by the
communicating portion with the RFID circuit element so as to
produce the RFID label (or the ordinary label).
[0025] At this time, in the fourth aspect of the present
application, by generating the label-length display signal by the
label-length display signal generating portion, display of the
label length information which can be newly accepted can be
displayed at an apparatus-side display device or a display device
outside the apparatus. Therefore, after the predetermined label
length in the tag tape is consumed (or consumption is scheduled)
for producing the RFID label, if a surplus portion of the tag tape
is generated, the surplus length portion is displayed as newly
acceptable so that the operator can recognize that, and the
operator can effectively utilize the surplus portion for producing
the ordinary label without wasting it.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0026] FIG. 1 is a system block diagram illustrating an RFID tag
manufacturing system having the tag-label producing apparatus of a
first embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the entire
structure of the tag-label producing apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of an
internal unit inside the tag-label producing apparatus.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating the structure of the
internal unit shown in FIG. 3.
[0030] FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view schematically illustrating a
detailed structure of a cartridge.
[0031] FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating a control
system of the tag-label producing apparatus.
[0032] FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram illustrating a
functional configuration of an RFID circuit element.
[0033] FIGS. 8A and 8B are views illustrating an example of an
appearance of an RFID label T.
[0034] FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams obtained by rotating cross
sectional diagrams of the IXA-IXA' section and IXB-IXB' section in
FIG. 8A counterclockwise by 90 degrees.
[0035] FIGS. 10A to 10N are explanatory views illustrating a
positional relation among a tag-label tape, a loop antenna, a mark
sensor, a half cut unit, a cutting mechanism, and a print head.
[0036] FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an example of the RFID
label.
[0037] FIG. 12 is a view illustrating an example of the RFID label
without rear print area.
[0038] FIGS. 13A to 13N are explanatory views illustrating a
positional relation among a tag-label tape, a loop antenna, a mark
sensor, a half cut unit, a cutting mechanism, and a print head.
[0039] FIG. 14 is a view illustrating an example of the RFID
label.
[0040] FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure
performed by a control circuit.
[0041] FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of
Step S2100.
[0042] FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of
Step S2200.
[0043] FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of
Step S2300.
[0044] FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of
Step S2400.
[0045] FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of
Step S2500.
[0046] FIG. 21 is a plan view illustrating a detailed structure of
a cartridge of a variation in which tape bonding is not carried
out.
[0047] FIG. 22 is a plan view illustrating a detailed structure of
a cartridge of another variation in which tape bonding is not
carried out.
[0048] FIG. 23 is a system block diagram illustrating an RFID tag
manufacturing system to which the tag-label producing apparatus of
the second embodiment of the present disclosure is applied.
[0049] FIG. 24 is a conceptual block diagram illustrating a
detailed structure of the tag-label producing apparatus.
[0050] FIG. 25 is an explanatory view for illustrating the detailed
structure of the cartridge.
[0051] FIG. 26 is a functional block diagram illustrating a
detailed function of a radio frequency circuit.
[0052] FIG. 27 is a top view illustrating an appearance of the RFID
label and an ordinary label.
[0053] FIGS. 28A and 28B are cross sectional views by the
XXVIIIA-XXVIIIA' section and the XXVIIIB-XXVIIIB' section in FIG.
27.
[0054] FIGS. 29A to 29C are explanatory views of production of an
ordinary label using a surplus portion after production of the RFID
label.
[0055] FIGS. 30A to 30C are views illustrating an example of
display contents in JOB allocation displayed on a display of a
terminal.
[0056] FIGS. 31A and 31B are views illustrating an example of
display contents in JOB allocation displayed on a display of the
terminal.
[0057] FIG. 32 is a view illustrating an example of display
contents for notifying completion of printing displayed on a
display of the terminal.
[0058] FIG. 33 is a view illustrating an example of display
contents for selection of forced printing displayed on a display of
the terminal.
[0059] FIG. 34 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure
performed by a CPU of the terminal.
[0060] FIG. 35 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure
executed by the CPU of the terminal.
[0061] FIG. 36 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure
executed by a control circuit of the tag-label producing
apparatus.
[0062] FIG. 37 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of
Step S2230 shown in FIG. 36.
[0063] FIG. 38 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of
Step S2230 shown in FIG. 36.
[0064] FIG. 39 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of
Step S2230 shown in FIG. 36.
[0065] FIG. 40 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of
Step S2500 shown in FIGS. 37, 38, and 39.
[0066] FIG. 41 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of
Step S2270 shown in FIG. 40.
[0067] FIG. 42 is a conceptual block diagram illustrating a
detailed structure of a tag-label producing apparatus of a
standalone type of a variation.
[0068] FIGS. 43A to 43C are views illustrating an example of
display contents displayed on a display of the terminal in the mode
by JOB in a third embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0069] FIG. 44 is a view illustrating an example of display
contents displayed on a display of the terminal in the mode by
JOB.
[0070] FIG. 45 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure
executed by a CPU of the terminal.
[0071] FIG. 46 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of
Step S2230 shown in FIG. 36 executed by a control circuit of the
tag-label producing apparatus according to the third embodiment of
the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0072] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described
referring to the attached drawings.
[0073] A first embodiment of the present disclosure will be
described referring to FIGS. 1 to 22. The present embodiment is an
embodiment for effective utilization by carrying out pattern print
on a margin portion.
[0074] FIG. 1 is a system block diagram illustrating an RFID tag
manufacturing system having the tag-label producing apparatus of
the first embodiment.
[0075] In an RFID tag manufacturing system TS shown in FIG. 1, a
tag-label producing apparatus 1 is connected to a route server RS,
a plurality of information servers IS, a terminal 118a, and a
general-purpose computer 118b through a wired or wireless
communication line NW. The terminal 118a and the general-purpose
computer 118b are collectively referred to simply as "PC118" below
as appropriate.
[0076] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the entire
structure of the tag-label producing apparatus 1. In FIG. 2, the
tag-label producing apparatus 1 produces an RFID label with print
based on operation from the PC 118 in the apparatus. The tag-label
producing apparatus 1 includes an apparatus body 2 having a housing
200 in a substantially regular hexahedron (substantially cubic)
shape on the outline and an opening/closing lid 3 provided capable
of being opened/closed (or may be detachable) on the top face of
the apparatus body 2.
[0077] The housing 200 of the apparatus body 2 includes a front
wall 10 located at the apparatus front side (left front side in
FIG. 2) and provided with a label carry-out exit 11 for discharging
an RFID label T (which will be described later) produced inside the
apparatus body 2 to the outside and a front lid 12 provided below
the label carry-out exit 11 in the front wall 10 and having its
lower end rotatably supported.
[0078] The front lid 12 is provided with a pusher portion 13, and
the front lid 12 is opened frontward by pushing in this pusher
portion 13 from above. Also, below a opening/closing button 4 in
the front wall 10, a power button 14 that powers on/off of the
tag-label producing apparatus 1 is provided. Below this power
button 14, a cutter driving button 16 is provided for driving a
cutting mechanism 15 disposed in the apparatus body 2 through
manual operation by a user, and a tag label tape 109 with print
(See FIG. 4, which will be described later) is cut to a desired
length so as to produce the RFID label T by pushing this button
16.
[0079] The opening/closing lid 3 is pivotally supported rotatably
at the end on the right depth side in FIG. 2 of the apparatus body
2 and urged in the opening direction all the time through an urging
member such as a spring. When the opening/closing button 4 arranged
adjacently to the opening/closing lid 3 on the top face of the
apparatus body 2 is pushed, lock between the opening/closing lid 3
and the apparatus body 2 is released and opened by action of the
urging member. A see-through window 5 covered by a transparent
cover is provided at the center side of the opening/closing lid
3.
[0080] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of an
internal unit 20 inside the tag-label producing apparatus 1
(however, a loop antenna LC, which will be described later, is
omitted). In FIG. 3, the internal unit 20 includes a cartridge
holder 6 that stores a cartridge 7, a printing mechanism 21
provided with a print head, which is a so-called thermal head 23,
the cutting mechanism 15 provided with a fixed blade 40 and a
movable blade 41, a half cut unit 35 provided with a half cutter 34
and located on the downstream side in the tape feeding direction of
the fixed blade 40 and the movable blade 41.
[0081] On the top face of the cartridge 7, a tape identification
display portion 8 displaying the tape width, tape color and the
like of the base tape 101 incorporated in the cartridge 7, for
example, is provided. Also, in the cartridge holder 6, a roller
holder 25 is pivotally supported rotatably by a support shaft 29 so
that switching can be made between a printing position (see FIG. 4,
which will be described later) and a release position by a
switching mechanism. At this roller holder 25, a platen roller 26
and a tape pressure roller 28 are rotatably disposed, and when the
roller holder 25 is switched to the printing position, the platen
roller 26 and the tape pressure roller 28 are pressed onto the
print head 23 and a tape feed roller 27.
[0082] The print head 23 is provided with a large number of heating
elements and mounted to a head mounting portion 24 erected at the
cartridge holder 6.
[0083] The cutting mechanism 15 is provided with the fixed blade 40
and the movable blade 41 composed of metal members. A driving force
of a cutter motor 43 (See FIG. 6, which will be described later) is
transmitted to a shank portion 46 of the movable blade 41 through a
cutter helical gear 42, a boss 50, and a long hole 49 and the
movable blade is rotated, and cutting operation is performed with
the fixed blade 40. This cut state is detected by a micro switch
126 switched by operation of a cam 42A for cutter helical gear.
[0084] In the half cut unit 35, a cradle 38 and a half cutter 34
are arranged opposite to each other, and a first guide portion 36
and a second guide portion 37 are mounted to a side plate 44 (See
FIG. 4, which will be described later) by a guide fixing portion
36A. The half cutter 34 is rotated by a driving force of a half
cutter motor 129 (See FIG. 6, which will be described later) around
a predetermined rotating fulcrum (not shown). At the end of the
cradle 38, a receiving face 38B is formed.
[0085] FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating the structure of the
internal unit 20 shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 4, the cartridge holder 6
stores the cartridge 7 so that the direction of the tag label tape
109 with print in the width direction discharged from a tape
discharge portion 30 of the cartridge 7 and further discharged from
the label carry-out exit 11 should be perpendicular in the vertical
direction.
[0086] Also, in the internal unit 20, a label discharge mechanism
22 and the loop antenna LC are provided.
[0087] The label discharge mechanism 22 discharges the tag label
tape 109 with print after being cut by the cutting mechanism (in
other words, the RFID label T. The same applies to the following).
That is, the label discharge mechanism 22 includes a feeding roller
51 rotated by the driving force of a tape discharge motor 123 (See
FIG. 6, which will be described later), a pressure roller 52
opposed to the feeding roller 51 by sandwiching the tag label tape
109 with print therebetween, and a mark sensor 127 that detects an
identifier PM (See FIG. 5, which will be described later) provided
at the tag label tape 109 with print. At this time, first guide
walls 55, 56 and second guide walls 63, 64 that guides the tag
label tape 109 with print to the label carry-out exit 11 are
provided inside the label carry-out exit 11. The first guide walls
55, 56 and the second guide walls 63, 64 are integrally formed,
respectively, and arranged at the discharge position of the tag
label tape 109 with print (RFID label T) cut by the fixed blade 40
and the movable blade 41 so that they are separated from each other
with a predetermined interval.
[0088] The loop antenna LC is arranged in the vicinity of the
pressure roller 52 so that the pressure roller 52 is located at the
center in the radial direction, and an access (information reading
or information writing) is made through a wireless communication to
the RFID circuit element To provided at the base tape 101 (the tag
label tape 109 with print after bonding. The same applies to the
following) by magnetic induction (including electromagnetic
induction, magnetic coupling and other non-contact contact methods
through a magnetic field).
[0089] At the above reading or writing, correspondence between the
tag ID of the RFID circuit element To of the produced RFID label T
and the information read out of its IC circuit part 151 (or
information written in the IC circuit part 151) is stored in the
above-mentioned route server RS and can be referred to as
needed.
[0090] Also, the tape-feed-roller drive shaft 108 and a driving
shaft 107 give a feeding drive force of the tag label tape 109 with
print and an ink ribbon 105 (which will be described later),
respectively, and are rotated/driven in conjunction with each
other.
[0091] FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view schematically illustrating a
detailed structure of the cartridge 7. The cartridge 7 has a
housing 7A, a first roll 102 (actually, it is wound in a swirl
state but shown concentrically in the figure for simplification)
arranged inside the housing 7A and around which the base tape 101
in the band state is wound, a second roll 104 (actually, it is
wound in a swirl state but shown concentrically in the figure for
simplification) around which a transparent cover film 103 having
substantially the same width as that of the base tape 101 is wound,
a ribbon-supply-side roll 211 that feeds out the ink ribbon 105
(thermal transfer ribbon, however, it is not needed when the
print-receiving tape is a thermal tape), the ribbon take-up roller
106 that winds up the ribbon 105 after printing, the tape feed
roller 27 rotatably supported in the vicinity of the tape discharge
portion 30 of the cartridge 7, and a guide roller 112 functioning
as a feeding position regulating means.
[0092] The tape feed roller 27 presses and bonds the base tape 101
and the cover film 103 together so as to form the tag label tape
109 with print and feeds the tape in a direction shown by an arrow
A in FIG. 5 (also functioning as a pressure roller).
[0093] In the first roll 102, the base tape 1' in which a plurality
of RFID circuit elements To are sequentially arranged in the
longitudinal direction with a predetermined equal interval is wound
around a reel member 102a. The base tape 101 has a four-layered
structure (See the partially enlarged view in FIG. 5) in this
example and is constructed in lamination in the order of an
adhesive layer 101a made of an appropriate adhesive, a colored base
film 101b made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and the like, an
adhesive layer 101c made of an appropriate adhesive, and a
separation sheet 101d from the side wound inside (right side in
FIG. 5) toward the opposite side (left side in FIG. 5).
[0094] On the back side of the base film 101b (left side in FIG.
5), the loop antenna 152 constructed in the loop-coil shape that
transmits/receives information is provided integrally in this
embodiment, the IC circuit part 151 connected to it and storing
information is formed, and the RFID circuit element To is comprised
by them.
[0095] On the front side of the base film 101b (right side in FIG.
5), the adhesive layer 101a that bonds the cover film 103 later is
formed, while on the back side of the base film 101b (left side in
FIG. 5), the separation sheet 101d is bonded to the base film 101b
by the adhesive layer 101c provided so as to include the RFID
circuit element To.
[0096] Note that, when the RFID label T finally completed in the
label state is to be affixed to a predetermined article or the
like, the separation sheet 101d enables adhesion to the article by
the adhesive layer 101c through separation of the separation sheet.
Also, on the surface of the separation sheet 101d, at a
predetermined position (in this embodiment, a position on the
further front than the tip end of the loop antenna 152 at the front
side in the feeding direction) corresponding to each RFID circuit
element To (and also corresponding to a tag print area PE1, which
will be described later), a predetermined identifier for feeding
control (an identifier painted in black in this embodiment.
Alternatively, it may be a drilled hole penetrating the base tape
101 by laser machining or the like. Alternatively, it may be a
Thomson type machined hole or the like. See FIG. 9C, which will be
described later) PM is provided.
[0097] The second roll 104 has the cover film 103 wound around a
reel member 104a. In the cover film 103 fed out of the second roll
104, the ribbon 105 arranged on its back face side (that is, the
side to be bonded to the base tape 101) and driven by the
ribbon-supply-side roll 211 and the ribbon take-up roller 106 is
brought into contact with the back face of the cover film 103 by
being pressed by the print head 23.
[0098] The ribbon take-up roller 106 and the tape feed roller 27
are rotated/driven in conjunction by a driving force of a feeding
motor 119 (See FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, which will be described later),
which is a pulse motor, for example, provided outside the cartridge
7, transmitted to the driving shaft 107 and the tape-feed-roller
drive shaft 108 through a gear mechanism, not shown. The print head
23 is arranged on the upstream side in the feeding direction of the
cover film 103 than the tape feed roller 27.
[0099] In the above construction, the base tape 101 fed out of the
first roll 102 is supplied to the tape feed roller 27. On the other
hand, as for the cover film 103 fed out of the second roll 104, the
ink ribbon 105 arranged on its back face side (that is, the side
bonded to the base tape 101) and driven by the ribbon-supply-side
roll 211 and the ribbon take-up roller 106 is pressed by the print
head 23 and brought into contact with the back face of the cover
film 103.
[0100] When the cartridge 7 is mounted to the cartridge holder 6
and the roll holder 25 is moved from the release position to the
printing position, the cover film 103 and the ink ribbon 105 are
held between the print head 23 and the platen roller 26, and the
base tape 101 and the cover film 103 are held between the tape feed
roller 27 and the pressure roller 28. Then, the ribbon take-up
roller 106 and the tape feed roller 27 are rotated/driven by the
driving force of the feeding motor 119 in a direction shown by an
arrow B and an arrow C in FIG. 5, respectively, in synchronization
with each other. At this time, the tape-feed-roller drive shaft
108, the pressure roller 28 and the platen roller 26 are connected
through the gear mechanism (not shown), and with the driving of the
tape-feed-roller drive shaft 108, the tape feed roller 27, the
pressure roller 28, and the platen roller 26 are rotated, and the
base tape 101 is fed out of the first roll 102 and supplied to the
tape feed roller 27 as mentioned above. On the other hand, the
cover film 103 is fed out of the second roll 104, and the plurality
of heater elements of the print head 23 are electrified by a
print-head drive circuit 120 (See FIG. 6, which will be described
later). As a result, print R (See FIG. 8, which will be described
later) corresponding to the RFID circuit element To on the base
tape 101 to be the bonding target is printed on the back face of
the cover film 103. Then, the base tape 101 and the cover film 103
on which the printing has been finished are bonded together by the
tape feed roller 27 and the pressure roller 28 to be integrated and
formed as the tag label tape 109 with print and fed out of the
cartridge 7 through the tape discharge portion 30 (See FIG. 4). The
ink ribbon 105 finished with printing on the cover film 103 is
wound up by the ribbon take-up roller 106 by driving of the driving
shaft 107.
[0101] Then, after information writing/reading is carried out
to/from the RFID circuit element To by the loop antenna LC in the
tag label tape 109 with print produced by bonding as above, the tag
label tape 109 with print is cut by the cutting mechanism 15
automatically or by operating the cutter driving button 16 (See
FIG. 2) and the RFID label T is produced. This RFID label T is
further discharged from the label carry-out exit 11 (See FIGS. 2
and 4) by the label discharge mechanism 22 after that.
[0102] FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating a control
system of the tag-label producing apparatus 1 of the first
embodiment. In FIG. 6, on a control board (not shown) of the
tag-label producing apparatus 1, a control circuit 110 is
arranged.
[0103] In the control circuit 110, a CPU 111 provided with a timer
111A inside and controlling each apparatus, an input/output
interface 113 connected to this CPU 111 through a data bus, a CGROM
114, ROMs 115, 116, and a RAM 117 are provided.
[0104] In the ROM 116, a print driving control program for driving
the print head 23, the feeding motor 119, and the tape discharge
motor 65 by reading out data of a printing buffer in correspondence
with an operation input signal from the PC 118, a cutting driving
control program for feeding the tag label tape 109 with print to
the cut position by driving the feeding motor 119 when printing is
finished and cutting the tag label tape 109 with print by driving
the cutter motor 43, and a tape discharge program for forcedly
discharging the tag label tape 109 with print which has been cut
(=RFID label T) from the label carry-out exit 11 by driving the
tape discharge motor 65, a transmitting program for generating
access information such as an inquiry signal and a writing signal
to the RFID circuit element To and outputting it to a transmitting
circuit 306, a receiving program for processing a response signal
input from a reception circuit 307, and other various programs
required for control of the tag-label producing apparatus 1 are
stored. The CPU 111 executes various calculations based on the
various programs stored in the ROM 116.
[0105] In the RAM 117, a text memory 117A, a print buffer 117B, a
parameter storage area 117E and the like are provided. In the text
memory 117A, document data input from the PC 118 is stored. In the
print buffer 117B, dot patterns for printing such as a plurality of
characters and symbols and applied pulse number, which is a forming
energy of each dot, are stored as dot pattern data, and the print
head 23 carries out dot printing according to the dot pattern data
stored in this print buffer 117B. In the parameter storage area
117E, various calculation data, tag identification information (tag
ID) of the RFID circuit element To (above-mentioned) from which
information is read (obtained) and the like are stored.
[0106] The PC 118, the print-head drive circuit 120 that drives the
print head 23, a feeding motor drive circuit 121 that drives the
feeding motor 119, a cutter motor drive circuit 122 that drives the
cutter motor 43, a half-cutter motor drive circuit 128 that drives
the half-cutter motor 129, a tape discharge motor drive circuit 123
that drives the tape discharge motor 65, the transmitting circuit
306 that generates a carrier wave for making an access
(reading/writing) to the RFID circuit element To through the loop
antenna LC and outputs an interrogating wave (transmission signal)
obtained by modulating the carrier wave based on an input control
signal, the reception circuit 307 that demodulates a response
signal received through the loop antenna LC from the RFID circuit
element To and outputting it, and the mark sensor 127 that detects
the identifier PM are connected to the input/output interface
113.
[0107] In a control system with the control circuit 110 as its
core, when character data and the like are input through the PC
118, the text (document data) is sequentially stored in the text
memory 117A, the print head 23 is driven through the drive circuit
120, and each of the heater elements is selectively heated/driven
in correspondence with printing dots for one line for printing the
dot pattern data stored in the print buffer 117B, and in
synchronization with that, the feeding motor 119 performs feeding
control of the tape through the drive circuit 121. Also, the
transmitting circuit 306 performs modulation control of the carrier
wave based on the control signal from the control circuit 110 and
outputs the interrogating wave, and the reception circuit 307
performs processing of the demodulated signal based on the control
signal from the control circuit 110.
[0108] FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram illustrating a
functional configuration of the RFID circuit element To. In FIG. 7,
the RFID circuit element To has the loop antenna 152 that
transmits/receives a signal contactlessly with the loop antenna LC
on the tag-label producing apparatus 1 by magnetic induction and
the IC circuit part 151 connected to the loop antenna 152.
[0109] The IC circuit part 151 includes a rectification part 153
that rectifies the interrogating wave received by the loop antenna
152, a power source part 154 that accumulates energy of the
interrogating wave rectified by the rectification part 153 so as to
make it a driving power supply, a clock extraction part 156 that
extracts a clock signal from the interrogating wave received by the
loop antenna 152 so as to supply it to a control part 155, a memory
part 157 which can store a predetermined information signal, a
modem part 158 connected to the loop antenna 152, and the control
part 155 that controls operation of the RFID circuit element To
through the rectification part 153, the clock extraction part 156,
the modem part 158 and the like.
[0110] The modem part 158 demodulates a communication signal from
the loop antenna LC of the tag-label producing apparatus 1 received
by the loop antenna 152 and modulates the interrogating wave
received at the loop antenna 152 and resend it as a response wave
from the loop antenna 152 based on the reply signal from the
control part 155.
[0111] The control part 155 interprets a received signal
demodulated by the modem part 158, generates a reply signal based
on the information signal stored in the memory part 157, and
executes basic control such as control of reply by the modem part
158.
[0112] The clock extraction part 156 extracts a clock component
from the received signal so as to extract a clock to the control
part 155 and supplies the clock corresponding to the frequency of
the clock component of the received signal to the control part
155.
[0113] FIGS. 8A and 8B are views illustrating an example of the
appearance of the RFID label T formed after information writing (or
reading) of the RFID circuit element To and cutting of the tag
label tape 109 with print by the tag-label producing apparatus 1
constructed as above have been finished, in which FIG. 8A is a top
view and FIG. 8B is a bottom view. FIG. 9A is a diagram obtained by
rotating a cross sectional diagram of the IXA-IXA' section in FIG.
8 counterclockwise by 90 degrees, and FIG. 9B is a diagram obtained
by rotating a cross sectional diagram of the IXB-IXB' section in
FIG. 8 counterclockwise by 90 degrees.
[0114] In FIGS. 8A, 8B, 9A, and 9B, the RFID label T is in the
five-layered structure in which the cover film 103 is added to the
four-layered structure shown in FIG. 5 as mentioned above made of
five layers of the cover film 103, the adhesive layer 101a, the
base film 101b, the adhesive layer 10c, and the separation sheet
101d from the cover film 103 side (upper side in FIG. 9) to the
opposite side (lower side in FIG. 9). The RFID circuit element To
including the loop antenna 152 provided on the back side of the
base film 101b as mentioned above is provided in the base film 101b
and the adhesive layer 10c, and the label print R (characters of
"RF-ID" representing the type of the RFID label T in this
embodiment) corresponding to the stored information or the like of
the RFID circuit element To is printed on the back face of the
cover film 103.
[0115] Also, in the cover film 103, the adhesive layer 101a, the
base film 101b, and the adhesive layer 10c, a half-cut line HC (Two
lines of a front half-cut line HC1 and a rear half-cut line HC2,
which will be described later, in this embodiment) are formed by
the half cutter 34 substantially along the tape width direction as
mentioned above. In the cover film 103, a portion held between the
half-cut lines HC1, HC2 becomes a tag print area PE1 on which the
label print R is printed, while the both sides in the tape
longitudinal direction from the tag print area PE1 with the
half-cut lines HC1, HC2 between them are a front print area PE2 and
a rear print area PE3, respectively.
[0116] Also, in the tag-label producing apparatus 1, using a pair
of the base tape 101 and the cover film 103, a plurality of RFID
labels T is sequentially produced by the tag label tape 109 with
print into which they are bonded as mentioned above. In this
embodiment, when they are sequentially produced, predetermined
pattern prints R1, R2 are printed respectively on the front print
area PE2 and the rear print area PE3 of the cover film 103 of each
of the RFID labels T.
[0117] The pattern prints R1, R2 are sentences, images and the like
which can be edited by users in advance, and the contents are
various additional information relating to production of the RFID
label T. The specific examples are, for example, (a) contents which
indicate that an arbitrary type of tag is contained (=one of
information at use such as "this label incorporates RF-ID tag!".
See the pattern prints R1, R2 of FIG. 8A.), (b) contents relating
to handling (cautions as information at use such as "Do not bend or
fold", "For internal use only!", and "Special label. Handle with
care!". See the pattern prints R1, R2 of FIG. 8A.), (c) contents
relating to location where affixing targets are stored (=one of
information at use such as "Storage room, 10F, First plant", (d)
contents relating to an organization owning/managing the affixing
targets (=one of information at use such as "For sales division"),
(e) contents relating to usage such as affixing method, affixing
location, designation of affixing targets and the like (=one of
information at use such as "Affix at upper right on the front of
the file"), (f) contents relating to care to be taken during
affixing work (=caution information as one of information at use
such as "Clean the affixing portion before affixing", "Do not affix
on metal portion!"), (g) contents relating to handling of the front
print area PE2 and the rear print area PE3 after use such as
designation of return destination, check of use at return
destination, designation of place/method for disposal (=one of
information at use such as "Return the remaining tape to the
administration division after affixing!", "Return the remaining
tape to the exclusive collection box after affixing!", (h) contents
relating to producing time and date (=one of information at use
such as "January 1, 2005", "13:00, Saturday, January 1, 2005"), (i)
contents relating to use expiration date (effective date) (=one of
information at use such as "Affix by January 1, 2005"), (j)
contents relating to producer's name, ID (=one of information at
use such as "Produced by Suzuki A21111"), and (k) contents relating
to the name of producing organization (company, division) (=one of
information at use such as "Produced by Sales division").
[0118] The sentences in the pattern prints R1, R2 may be in English
as shown in FIG. 8, Japanese or any other language. Also, the
pattern prints R1, R2 may have the same contents or different
contents. If the pattern prints R1, R2 have different contents from
each other, an information amount relating to the RFID label T is
increased by that amount, which further widens effective
utilization and improves convenience. Moreover, in order to make
additional information inscribed on the pattern prints R1, R2 more
distinctive, print with decoration including addition or change of
at least predetermined lines, colors, figures and images (such as
icons, marks, symbols and the like) may be given to the pattern
prints R1, R2 or their peripheral areas.
[0119] On the other hand, in FIG. 8A, a dimension (distance from
the half-cut line HC1 to the half-cut line HC2) X in the tape
longitudinal direction of the tag print area PE1 is variably set
according to the contents and aspect of the label print R (number
of characters, fonts and the like). Also, a dimension (distance
from the tape tip end to the half-cut line HC1) X1 in the tape
longitudinal direction of the front print area PE2 and a dimension
(distance from the half-cut line HC2 to the tape rear end) X2 in
the tape longitudinal direction of the rear print area PE3 are set
(fixedly in this embodiment) to predetermined values in advance
(however, the rear half-cut line HC2 is not provided in some cases,
as will be described later). Also, on the separation sheet 101d,
the above-mentioned identifier PM remains, and a distance from the
tip end of this identifier PM in the tape feeding direction and the
tip end of the RFID circuit element To in the tape feeding
direction offset by that is a predetermined value L. As mentioned
above, instead of providing marking painted in black as shown FIGS.
9A and 9B as the identifier PM, a hole substantially penetrating
the base tape 101 by laser machining or the like may be drilled as
the identifier PM, though not shown.
[0120] In the tag-label producing apparatus 1 with the above basic
construction, behavior of control of the print head 23 and the loop
antenna LC according to the feeding position of the tag label tape
109 with print will be described using FIGS. 10 to 14.
[0121] (A) When the Print Length is Relatively Long:
[0122] FIGS. 10A to 10N are explanatory diagrams illustrating
positional relations among the identifier PM, the RFID circuit
element To, the tag print area PE1 of the label print R, the front
print area PE2 of the pattern print R1, and the rear print area PE3
of the pattern print R2 of the tag label tape 109 with print and
the loop antenna LC, the mark sensor 127, the half cut unit 35, the
cutting mechanism 15, and the print head 23. As shown in the
figures, in the base tape 101 in this embodiment, the distance L in
tape feeding direction between the identifier PM and the RFID
circuit element To is set in advance so that it is slightly larger
than a distance Lo in the tape feeding direction between the mark
sensor 127 and the print head 23.
[0123] First, FIG. 10A shows a state before the feeding of the tag
label tape 109 with print is started out of the cartridge 7. In the
state shown in the figure, the identifier PM is not detected by the
mark sensor 127 yet.
[0124] When the tag label tape 109 with print is started to be fed
out and feeding of the tag label tape 109 with print is started,
printing of the pattern print R1 on the front print area PE2 of the
cover film 103 is started (FIG. 10B). In this embodiment, as shown
in FIGS. 10C to 10K, which will be described later, a case where
the tag type (presence) (characters in English "RFID TAG") is
repeatedly printed is exemplified.
[0125] As feeding of the tag label tape 109 with print further
progresses from this state (in other words, feeding of the base
tape 101 and the cover film 103. The same applies to the
following), the vicinity of the tip end of the RFID circuit element
To in the tape feeding direction gets closer to the position of the
print head 23 (FIG. 10C). Here, since it is L>Lo as mentioned
above, when the tip end of the identifier PM in the tape feeding
direction reaches the position of the mark sensor 127 by movement
of the tag label tape 109 with print, the position of the cover
film 103 corresponding to the RFID circuit element To (position to
be bonded to the position of the RFID circuit element To of the
base tape 101) does not reach the position of print head 23 but it
is located slightly before that. By completing the printing of the
pattern print R1 on the front print area PE2 in this state (=when
the identifier PM is detected by the mark sensor 127), a small
margin area is generated between it and the print area PE1 for
full-scale printing, which will be described later. If this margin
is not needed, setting may be L=Lo.
[0126] As the feeding of the tag label tape 109 with print slightly
progresses from this state, the position corresponding to the RFID
circuit element To of the cover film 103 reaches the print head 23
(FIG. 10D). Then, printing of the label print R is started on the
tag print area PE1 of the cover film 103 (FIG. 10E). In this
embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 10K to 10N, which will be described
later, a case where relatively long characters (alphabetical
characters "ABCDEFGHIJKLMN") are printed is exemplified.
[0127] As the feeding of the tag label tape 109 with print further
progresses from this state, the position of the front half-cut line
HC1 set in advance (position of the distance X1 from the tape tip
end as mentioned above. See FIG. 8) reaches the position of the
half cut unit 35 (FIG. 10F). Since the identifier PM has been
already detected by the mark sensor 127 in this state, the
detection of arrival at this position is made by detecting progress
of the tag label tape 109 with print from the state in the above
mentioned FIG. 10C (identifier PM detection started state) by a
predetermined distance. In correspondence with this detection,
feeding of the tag label tape 109 with print is stopped, and the
front half-cut line HC1 is formed by the half cut unit 35 (FIG.
10F).
[0128] After that, feeding of the tag label tape 109 with print is
resumed, and when the feeding of the tag label tape 109 with print
further progresses (FIG. 10G) from the state in FIG. 10F, the RFID
circuit element To reaches the position of the loop antenna LC
(FIG. 10H). At this time, since relatively long characters
("ABCDEFGHIJKLMN") are being printed as the label print R in this
embodiment as mentioned above, printing in the tag print area PE1
is not completely finished at this time. Therefore, feeding and
printing of the tag label tape 109 with print are stopped once
(interrupted) and wireless communication is performed through the
loop antenna LC with the RFID circuit element To in this feeding
stopped state and then, feeding and printing are resumed (FIG. 10I)
so that all ("ABCDEFGHIJKLMN") the printing is completed in the end
(FIG. 10J).
[0129] As the feeding of the tag label tape 109 with print further
progresses from the state in (FIG. 10J), the position of the rear
print area PE3 of the cover film 103 reaches the print head 23. The
detection of arrival at this position is made by detecting progress
of the tag label tape 109 with print from the state of FIG. 10C by
a predetermined distance as mentioned above. In correspondence with
the detection, printing of the pattern print R2 is started on the
rear print area PE3 (FIG. 10K). In this example, the same contents
as that of the pattern print R1 are printed. In this case, also, a
small margin may be or may not be provided between the tag print
area PE1 and the rear print area PE3 similarly to that between the
front print area PE2 and the tag print area PE1.
[0130] As the feeding of the tag label tape 109 with print further
progresses from the state in (FIG. 10K), the position of the rear
half-cut line HC2 set in advance (the position at the distance X2
from the tape rear end as mentioned above. See FIG. 8) reaches the
position of the half cut unit 35. The detection of arrival at this
position is made by detecting progress of the tag label tape 109
with print from the state of FIG. 10C by a predetermined distance
as in the position detection of the front half-cut line HC2. In
correspondence with the detection, feeding of tag label tape 109
with print is stopped and the rear half-cut line HC2 is formed by
the half cut unit 35 (FIG. 10L).
[0131] As the feeding of the tag label tape 109 with print further
progresses from the state in (FIG. 10L), the printing of the
pattern print R2 on the rear print area PE3 is finished (FIG. 10M).
Note that, depending on the size setting of the rear print area
PE3, the printing of the pattern print R2 may be finished earlier
than formation of the rear half-cut line HC2.
[0132] After that, as the feeding of the tag label tape 109 with
print further progresses, the position of the cut line CL
corresponding to the dimension X of the tag print area PE1 in the
tape longitudinal direction of each RFID label T set variably
according to the length of the label print R reaches the position
of the cutting mechanism 15. The detection of arrival at this
position is also made by detecting progress of the tag label tape
109 with print from the state of FIG. 10C by a predetermined
distance as above. In correspondence with the detection, feeding of
the tag label tape 109 with print is stopped, cutting is carried
out at the cut line CL by the cutting mechanism 15 (FIG. 10N), and
the tip end side of the tag label tape 109 with print is cut off to
form the RFID label T.
[0133] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the RFID
label T completed as above and substantially corresponds to FIG. 8A
mentioned above. On the RFID label T, the RFID circuit element To
is arranged at the center side in the tape longitudinal direction
and the label print R is printed on the corresponding tag print
area PE1, and the front print area PE2 with the identifier PM and
the rear print area PE3 are provided with the front/rear half-cut
lines HC1, HC2 between them, respectively. Then, on the front print
area PE2, the pattern print R1 is printed, while on the rear print
area PE3, the pattern print R2 is printed.
[0134] In FIG. 11, since the length of the front print area PE2 is
larger, by repeatedly printing the pattern print R1 on the front
print area PE2 in the tape feeding direction, there is little
margin generated in the front print area PE2 (between the
patterns), but if the length of the rear print area PE3 is larger,
the pattern print R2 may be repeatedly printed on the rear print
area PE3. By repeatedly printing the pattern prints R1, R2 for a
plurality of times, additional information inscribed on the pattern
prints R1, R2 can be surely notified to the label user.
[0135] Also, the length of the tag print area PE1 changes according
to an aspect of the label print R as mentioned above, but when the
length of the tag print area PE1 is larger than a certain degree
due to the large number of characters in the label print R and the
like, the rear half-cut line HC2 is omitted (that is, the rear
print area PE3 is not set), but the tag print area PE1 is formed on
which the label print R is carried out up to the rear end of the
tag label tape 109 with print.
[0136] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of the RFID
label T without the rear print area PE3 and corresponds to FIG. 11.
On the RFID label T, the RFID circuit element To is arranged at the
center side in the tape longitudinal direction, the label print R
is carried out on the tag print area PE1, and only the front print
area PE2 with the identifier PM is provided with the front half cut
line HC1 between them. Then, the pattern print R1 is printed on the
front print area PE2.
[0137] (B) When the Print Length is Relatively Short:
[0138] FIGS. 13A to 13N are explanatory diagrams illustrating
positional relations among the identifier PM, the RFID circuit
element To, the tag print area PE1 of the label print R, the front
print area PE2 of the pattern print R1, and the rear print area PE3
of the pattern print R2 of the tag label tape 109 with print and
the loop antenna LC, the mark sensor 127, the half cut unit 34, the
cutting mechanism 15, and the print head 23 as in FIGS. 10A to 10N.
In this example, a case where relatively short characters (alphabet
characters "ABCDEFGHIJ") are printed is used as shown in FIGS. 13H
to 13N, which will be described later.
[0139] First, FIGS. 13A to 13G are the same as the above-mentioned
FIGS. 10A to 10G. That is, when feeding of the tag label tape 109
with print out of the cartridge 7 is started from the state shown
in FIG. 13A, printing of the pattern print R1 on the front print
area PE2 of the cover film 103 is started (FIG. 13B), and when the
tip end of the identifier PM reaches the position of the mark
sensor 127, printing of the pattern print R1 on the front print
area PE2 is completed (FIG. 13D), and feeding is further progressed
(FIG. 13C) after that, printing of the label print R on the tag
print area PE1 of the cover film 103 is started (FIG. 13E). When
the feeding is further progressed and the position of the front
half-cut line HC1 reaches the position of the half-cut unit 35, the
front half-cut line HC1 is formed by the half cut unit 35 (FIG.
13F). Then, the feeding of the tag label tape 109 with print is
resumed, and the feeding of the tag label tape 109 with print is
further progressed (FIG. 13G).
[0140] Then, since the number of characters of the label print R is
relatively small in this example, printing of the label print R
("ABCDEFGHIJ") is completed earlier before the RFID circuit element
To reaches the position of the loop antenna LC (See FIG. 13I, which
will be described later) (FIG. 13H).
[0141] After that, the feeding progresses and the RFID circuit
element To reaches the position of the loop antenna LC (FIG. 13I),
but unlike the above case of (A), all the printing on the tag print
area PE1 has been finished at this point. Thus, the feeding of the
tag label tape 109 with print is stopped (interrupted), and in the
feeding stopped state, wireless communication through the loop
antenna LC with the RFID circuit element To is performed. After
that, the feeding of the tag label tape 109 with print is resumed
(FIG. 13J). In this example, the position of the rear print area
PE3 of the cover film 103 has reached the print head 23 at this
time, and printing of the pattern print R2 on the rear print area
PE3 is started. Also, the same contents are printed as those of the
pattern print R1.
[0142] The subsequent FIGS. 13K to 13N have substantially the same
flow as that of the FIGS. 10L to 10N. That is, the feeding of the
tag label tape 109 with print is further progressed from the state
in FIG. 13J, and when the position of the half-cut line HC2 reaches
the position of the half cut unit 35, the feeding of tag label tape
109 with print is stopped, and the rear half-cut line HC2 is formed
by the half cut unit 35 (FIG. 13K). When the feeding further
progresses, printing of the pattern print R2 on the rear print area
PE3 is finished (FIG. 13L), the feeding further progresses (FIG.
13M) and when the position of the cut line CL reaches the position
of the cutting mechanism 15, the feeding is stopped and cutting is
carried out at the cutting line CL by the cutting mechanism 15
(FIG. 13N), and the tip end side of the tag label tape 109 with
print is cut off so as to form the RFID label T.
[0143] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of the RFID
label T completed as above and substantially corresponds to FIG. 11
mentioned in the above (A). Similarly to the above, the pattern
print R1 is printed on the front print area PE2 and the pattern
print R2 is printed on the rear print area PE3.
[0144] FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure
executed by the control circuit 110 that performs the above
control.
[0145] In FIG. 15, this flow is started when a predetermined RFID
label production operation is made by the tag-label producing
apparatus 1 through the PC 118. First, at Step S100, an operation
signal from the PC 118 is input (through the communication line NW
and the input/output interface 113), and preparation processing
(for detail, see FIG. 16, which will be described later) is
performed for setting printing data or communication data with the
RFID circuit element To and the like based on the operation
signal.
[0146] After that, the routine goes on to Step S5, a control signal
is output to the feeding motor drive circuit 121 through the
input/output interface 113, and the tape feed roller 27 and the
ribbon take-up roller 106 are rotated/driven by the driving force
of the feeding motor 121. Moreover, a control signal is output to
the tape discharge motor 65 through the tape discharge motor drive
circuit 123, and the feeding roller 51 is rotated/driven. By them,
the base tape 101 is fed out of the first roll 102 and supplied to
the tape feed roller 27, while the cover film 103 is fed out of the
second roll 104 and the base tape 101 and the cover film 103 are
bonded by the tape feed roller 27 and the pressure roller 28 to be
integrated and formed as the printed tag label tape 109 with print,
and further fed in the direction outside the tag-label producing
apparatus 1 from the direction outside the cartridge 7. When the
feeding of the printed tag label tape 109 with print is started in
this way, the routine goes on to the subsequent Step S6.
[0147] At Step S6, a control signal is output to the print-head
drive circuit 120 through the input/output interface 113, the print
head 23 is electrified, and printing of the pattern print R1 (front
print pattern printing) such as characters and symbols
corresponding to the printing data generated at Step S100 is
started on the front print area PE2 located at the tape tip end
side than the above-mentioned tag print area PE1 in the cover film
103 (See FIG. 10B).
[0148] After that, at Step S10, based on a detection signal of the
mark detection sensor 127 input through the input/output interface
113, it is determined if the identifier PM of the printed tag label
tape 109 with print is detected or not. This procedure is repeated
till the identifier PM is detected and the determination is
satisfied, and when being detected, the determination is satisfied
and the routine goes on to the subsequent Step S11.
[0149] At Step S11, a control signal is output to the print-head
drive circuit 120 through the input/output interface 113, power
feeding to the print head 23 is stopped, and printing of the
pattern print R1 on the front print area PE2 is stopped.
[0150] After that, at Step S12, it is determined if the tag label
tape 109 with print has been fed to the full-print start position
(tip end position of the tag print area PE1) where the label print
R should be printed. The determination at this time can be made by
detecting a feeding distance after the identifier PM of the base
tape 101 is detected at Step S10 by a predetermined known method
(such as counting the number of pulses output by the feeding motor
drive circuit 121 driving the feeding motor 119, which is a pulse
motor). This procedure is repeated till the full-print start
position is reached and the determination is satisfied, and when
being reached, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes
on to the subsequent Step S15.
[0151] At Step S15, a control signal is output to the print-head
drive circuit 120 through the input/output interface 113, the print
head 23 is electrified, and printing of the label print R
(full-printing) such as characters, symbols, barcodes and the like
corresponding to the printing data generated at Step S100 is
started in the above-mentioned tag print area PE1 (=area to be
substantially bonded on the back face of the RFID circuit elements
To arranged with a predetermined pitch and an equal interval on the
base tape 101) (See FIGS. 10D and E).
[0152] After that, at Step S20, it is determined if the printed tag
label tape 109 with print has been fed to the above-mentioned front
half-cut position (in other words, if the tag label tape 109 with
print has reached the position where the half cutter 34 of the half
cut mechanism 35 is opposed to the front half-cut line HC1 set at
step S100). The determination at this time can be made by detecting
a feeding distance after the identifier PM of the base tape 101 is
detected at the Step S1 by a predetermined known method, for
example, as mentioned above. This procedure is repeated till the
front half-cut position is reached and the determination is
satisfied, and when being reached, the determination is satisfied
and the routine goes on to the subsequent Step S25.
[0153] At Step S25, a control signal is output to the feeding motor
drive circuit 121 and the tape discharge motor drive circuit 123
through the input/output interface 113, driving of the feeding
motor 119 and the tape discharge motor 65 is stopped, and rotation
of the tape feed roller 27, the ribbon take-up roller 106 and the
feeding roller 51 is stopped. At a result, during the course in
which the printed tag label tape 109 with print fed out of the
cartridge 7 is moved in the discharge direction, in the state where
the half cutter 34 of the half cut mechanism 35 is opposed to the
front half-cut line HC1 set at Step S100, feeding-out of the base
tape 101 from the first roll 102, feeding-out of the cover film 103
from the second roll 104, and feeding of the tag label tape 109
with print are stopped. Also, at this time, a control signal is
output to the print-head drive circuit 120 through the input/output
interface 113, power feeding to the print head 23 is stopped, and
printing of the label print R (full-printing) is stopped (printing
interrupted).
[0154] After that, at Step S30, the front half-cut processing is
performed that a control signal is output to the half cutter motor
drive circuit 128 through the input/output interface 113 so as to
drive the half cutter motor 129 and rotate the half cutter 34, and
the cover film 103, the adhesive layer 101a, the base film 101b and
the adhesive layer 101c of the printed tag label tape 109 with
print are cut so as to form the front half-cut line HC1 (See FIG.
10F).
[0155] Then, the routine goes on to Step S35, where the tape feed
roller 27, the ribbon take-up roller 106, and the feeding roller 51
are rotated/driven similarly to Step S5 so as to resume feeding of
the printed tag label tape 109 with print, and the print head 23 is
electrified as in Step S15 so as to resume printing of the label
print R.
[0156] After that, at Step S40, it is determined according to a
print end position (See Step S130, which will be described later)
set variably according to the print contents (number of print
characters, font and the like) at Step S100 and the tag rear-end
position (See Step S145, which will be described later) set
according to type information of the cartridge 7 included in the
operation signal input by an operator at Step S100, if the tag
label tape 109 with print comes to the communication position
(position where the RFID circuit element To is opposed to the loop
antenna LC) of the RFID circuit element To before printing of all
the label print R on the tag print area PE1 is finished (state in
the above-mentioned FIG. 10H), or printing of all the label print R
on the tag print area PE1 is finished (state in the above-mentioned
FIG. 13I) before it comes to the communication position of the RFID
circuit element To (position where the RFID circuit element To is
opposed to the loop antenna LC).
[0157] If the length of the label print R to be printed is
relatively long and has a positional relation as shown in FIG. 10H,
for example, the determination at the above Step S40 is satisfied,
the routine goes on to step S200, and the long print label
production processing is performed. That is, when feeding is made
to the communication position of the RFID circuit element To
(position where the RFID circuit element To is opposed to the loop
antenna LC), feeding and printing are stopped and information is
transmitted/received. Then, the feeding and printing are resumed to
finish printing, feeding is further made and printing of the
pattern print R2 (rear print pattern printing) is carried out on
the rear print area PE3 located at the tape rear-end side of the
tag print area PE1, and then, the feeding is stopped at the rear
half-cut position to form the rear half-cut line HC2 (See FIG. 17,
which will be described later).
[0158] On the other hand, if the length of the label print R to be
printed is relatively short and has a positional relation as shown
in FIG. 13I, for example, the determination at the above Step S40
is not satisfied, the routine goes on to Step S300, where short
print label production processing is performed. That is, the
feeding and printing are continued so as to complete the printing
firstly, and then, the feeding is further made to reach the
communication position of the RFID circuit element To (position
where the RFID circuit element To is opposed to the loop antenna
LC), where the feeding is stopped and information is
transmitted/received, and after printing of the pattern print R2
(rear print pattern printing) is carried out on the rear print area
PE3 located at the tape rear-end side than the tag print area PE1,
the feeding is stopped at the rear half-cut position to form the
rear half-cut line HC2 (See FIG. 18, which will be described
later).
[0159] When Step S200 or Step S300 is finished as mentioned above,
the routine goes on to Step S45 (At this time, the feeding of the
tag label tape 109 with print has been resumed at Step S200 or Step
S300). At Step S45, it is first determined if the printed tag label
tape 109 with print has been fed to the above-mentioned full-cut
position or not (in other words, if the tag label tape 109 with
print has reached the position where the movable blade 41 of the
cutting mechanism 15 is opposed to the cut line CL set at Step
S100). The determination at this time can be made by detecting a
feeding distance after the identifier PM of the base tape 101 is
detected at the Step S10 by a predetermined known method, for
example, as in the above. This procedure is repeated till the
full-cut position is reached and the determination is satisfied,
and when being reached, the determination is satisfied and the
routine goes on to the subsequent Step S50.
[0160] At Step S50, similarly to the Step S25, rotation of the tape
feed roller 27, the ribbon take-up roller 106 and the feeding
roller 51 is stopped, and the feeding of the printed tag label tape
109 with print is stopped. At a result, in the state where the
movable blade 41 of the cutting mechanism 15 is opposed to the cut
line CL set at Step S100, feeding-out of the base tape 101 from the
first roll 102, feeding-out of the cover film 103 from the second
roll 104, and feeding of the tag label tape 109 with print are
stopped.
[0161] After that, at Step S55, the full-cut processing is
performed that a control signal is output to the cutter motor drive
circuit 122 so as to drive the cutter motor 43, the movable blade
41 of the cutting mechanism 15 is rotated, and the cover film 103,
the adhesive layer 101a, the base film 101b, the adhesive layer
10c, and the separation sheet 101d of the printed tag label tape
109 with print are all cut off (separated) so as to form the cut
line CL (See FIG. 10N). The RFID label T is cut off from the tag
label tape 109 with print by the separation by the cutting
mechanism 15, the RFID tag information of the RFID circuit element
To is read out and predetermined print corresponding to it is
carried out, thereby producing the RFID label Tin the label
state.
[0162] After that, the routine goes on to Step S60, where a control
signal is output to the tape discharge motor drive circuit 123
through the input/output interface 113 so as to resume the driving
of the tape discharge motor 65 and rotate the feeding roller 51. At
a result, the feeding by the feeding roller 51 is resumed, the RFID
label T produced in the label state at the Step S55 is fed toward
the label carry-out exit 11 and discharged out of the label
carry-out exit 11 to outside the tag-label producing apparatus 1,
and this flow is finished.
[0163] The cutting processing at the Step S55 and the label
discharge processing at Step S60 may be performed in conjunction as
described below.
[0164] First, at the cutting operation by the cutting mechanism 15,
for example, the cutter motor 43 is driven through the input/output
interface 113 and the cutter motor derive circuit 122, the tag
label tape 109 with print is pressed by the feeding roller 51
against the pressure roller 52 immediately before the tag label
tape 109 with print is started to be cut by the fixed blade 40 and
the movable blade 41, and the tag label tape 109 with print is held
till the tape is cut.
[0165] After that, depending on whether the cutting of the tag
label tape 109 with print is completed or not, a detection signal
of the micro switch 126 is switched from the off state to the on
state, and if it is determined that the cutting has been completed,
rotation of the cutter motor 43 is temporarily stopped through the
input/output interface 113 and the cutter motor drive circuit 122.
On the other hand, if the cutting has not been completed, driving
of the cutter motor 43 is continued till the micro switch 126 is
switched from the off state to the on state.
[0166] When the cutting is completed and the cutter motor 43 is
stopped, the tape discharge motor 65 is rotated through the
input/output interface 113 and the tape discharge motor drive
circuit 123, the feeding roller 51 is rotated through a gear train
66, and the held tape (RFID label T) is discharged. Then, depending
on whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the tape
discharge is started, determination on whether the RFID label T has
been discharged or not is made at the control circuit 110, and if
determined as it has been discharged, the rotation of the tape
discharge motor 65 is stopped through the input/output interface
113 and the tape discharge motor drive circuit 123, while if not,
the rotation is continued till it is discharged.
[0167] After the rotation of the tape discharge motor 65 is
stopped, the cutter motor 43 is rotated again through the
input/output interface 113 and the cutter motor drive circuit 122.
By that, the moveable blade 41 is rotated and returned to the
release position, while the pressure roller 52 is rotated in a
separating direction and held with a given interval. After that,
detection is made at the control circuit 110 on whether the
cut-release operation has been completed or not. If the micro
switch 126 has not been switched from the on state to the off state
and the cut-release operation is not completed, the rotation of the
cutter motor 43 is continued till completed. And if the micro
switch 126 is switched from the on state to the off state and the
cut-release operation is completed, the rotation of the cutter
motor 43 is stopped, and the full-cut processing and the label
discharge processing are finished.
[0168] FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of
the above-mentioned Step S100. In the flow shown in FIG. 16, first,
at Step S105, an operation signal input-operated from the PC 118 is
input (identified) through the input/output interface 113. This
operation signal includes printing information such as characters,
designs, drawing patterns and the like of the label print R and the
pattern prints R1, R2, and their fonts (character style, size,
thickness and the like), or code data of characters such as
letters, numerals and the like. When information is written in the
RFID circuit element To, the writing information (RFID tag
information including at least tag ID as identification
information) is included. The operation signal of the label print R
and the pattern prints R1, R2 is preferably a selection signal
obtained by making selection from among a plurality of types of
patterns determined in advance because the input operation of the
operator is facilitated. The input signal at this time also
includes information relating to the type of the cartridge 7
mounted to the cartridge holder 6 (in other words, tag attribute
information such as arrangement interval between the RFID circuit
elements in the base tape 101, tape width of the base tape 101 and
the like).
[0169] As for the cartridge information, a detected portion (an
identifier in the irregular shape or the like) provided separately
at the cartridge 7 may be detected by an appropriate cartridge
detecting device (those for mechanical detection such as a
mechanical switch, sensors for optical detection, sensors for
magnetic detection and the like) so that the type of the cartridge
7 can be automatically detected/searched based on this detection
signal.
[0170] After that, the routine goes on to Step S110, where based on
the operation signal input at the Step S105, printing data
corresponding to the above printing information (full-printing data
for label print R) is created.
[0171] Then, at step s115, based on the operation signal input at
the step S105, communication data corresponding to the writing
information is created. As mentioned above, when the RFID label T
is to be created by writing information in the RFID circuit element
To, this procedure is executed, but when the RFID label T is to be
created by reading information stored in the RFID circuit element
To in advance, this procedure may be omitted.
[0172] After that, the routine goes on to Step S120, where the
position of the front half-cut line HC1 is set as mentioned above.
Based on the operation signal input at the step S105, the position
of the front half-cut line HC1 on the tape corresponding to the
cartridge information is set. That is, depending on the type of the
cartridge 7, the arrangement interval of the RFID circuit elements
in the base tape 101 (in other words, the distance between the cut
line CL and the cut line CL, the length of a single RFID label T)
is uniquely determined as mentioned above, and depending on the
length of the RFID label T, the position of the front half-cut line
HC1 is (unlike the rear half-cut line HC) is determined at a given
position from the tip end of the tag label tape 109 with print in
advance regardless of the contents of the label print R (for
example, stored in an appropriate point of the control circuit 110
in a table form). In this procedure, based on this premise, the
position of the front half-cut line HC1 is (fixedly) set at a
position determined in advance for each cartridge 7.
[0173] Then, at Step S125, the above-mentioned communication
position on the tape by the RFID circuit element To is set. In this
setting, similarly to the above Step S120, the arrangement position
of the RFID circuit element To in the tag label tape 109 with print
is also (fixedly) set at a position determined in advance for each
cartridge 7 based on the operation signal input at the Step S105 on
the premise that the type (size) and the arrangement position of
the RFID circuit element To are determined in advance, according to
the type of cartridge 7, at a given position from the tip end of
the tag label tape 109 with print.
[0174] After that, the routine goes on to Step S130, based on the
printing data created at the Step S110, the position on the tape
where the printing of the label print R (full printing) is finished
is calculated. That is, when it is changed according to the
contents of the label print R and the print length would become
longer, the print end position gets (relatively) closer to the
label rear-end side, while if the print length is short, the print
end position gets (relatively) closer to the label front-end
side.
[0175] Then, at Step S135, the position of the above-mentioned rear
half-cut line HC2 is set. This setting is made based on the
operation signal input at the Step S105 and the print end position
calculated at the Step S130, and a position on the tape of the rear
half-cut line HC2 is set corresponding to the cartridge
information. That is, the position of the rear half-cut line HC2 is
calculated based on the operation signal input at the Step S105 and
on the premise that the distance from the print end position to the
rear half-cut line HC2 is determined according to the type of
cartridge 7, in the form that the determined distance is added
(interposed therebetween) to the print end position calculated at
the Step S130.
[0176] After that, the routine goes on to Step S140, where the
position of the cut line CL of the tag label tape 109 with print is
set. In this setting, similarly to the above Step S120, the cutting
position of the tag label tape 109 with print is also (fixedly) set
at a position determined in advance for each cartridge 7 based on
the operation signal input at Step S105 and on the premise that the
label size is determined in advance according to the type of the
cartridge 7.
[0177] And at Step S145, the above-mentioned rear-end position on
the tape of the RFID circuit element To is set. In this setting,
the rear-end position of the tag label tape 109 with print is also
(fixedly) set at a position determined in advance for each
cartridge 7 based on the operation signal input at the Step S105
and on the premise that the type (size) and the arrangement
position of the RFID circuit element To are determined in advance
according to the type of the cartridge 7.
[0178] Then, the routine goes on to Step S150, and it is determined
if the position of the rear half-cut line HC2 set at Step S135 and
the position of the cut line CL set at Step S140 are on the label
rear-end side rather than the rear-end position of the RFID circuit
element To at Step 145. If the position of the rear half-cut line
HC2 and the position of the cut line CL are on the label rear-end
side, the determination is satisfied, and the routine goes on to
Step S160.
[0179] If the position of the rear half-cut line HC2 or the
position of the cut line CL are set on the label front-end side
rather than the rear-end position of the RFID circuit element To,
the determination is not satisfied, and the routine goes on to Step
S155. At Step S155, since there is a possibility that a part of the
RFID circuit element To could be cut off, positions are modified so
that both the position of the rear half-cut line HC2 and the
position of the cut line CL are located on the label rear-end side
rather than the rear-end position of the RFID circuit element To
(resetting), and the routine goes on to Step S160.
[0180] After that, the routine goes on to Step S160, and based on
the operation signal input at the Step S105, the front/rear print
data (printing data for carrying out pattern prints R1, R2)
corresponding to the printing information is created fixedly (or
variably). At this time, setting may be made with limitation on the
data contents so that the print data is contained in a range of the
front print area PE2 and the rear print area PE3.
[0181] After that, the routine goes on to Step S165, and the
printing positions of the front/rear print data created at the Step
S160 are set. In this setting, the positions of the front print
area PE2 and the rear print area PE3 are set (fixedly) at positions
predetermined for each cartridge 7 based on the operation signal
input at the Step S105 and on the premise that the label size is
determined constant in advance according to the type of the
cartridge 7 similarly to the above, on the basis of the position of
the cut line CL of the tag label tape 109 with print, for
example.
[0182] After that, at Step S170, when communicating through the
loop antenna LC with the RFID circuit element To, which will be
described later, variables M, N for counting the number of times
(access retry times) of communication retried when there is no
response from the RFID circuit element To and a flag F indicating
if the communication was successful or not are initialized, and
this routine is finished.
[0183] FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of
the above-mentioned Step S200. In the flow shown in FIG. 17, first,
at Step S210, it is determined if the printed tag label tape 109
with print has been fed to the above-mentioned communication
position with the loop antenna (in other words, if the tag label
tape 109 with print has reached a position where the loop antenna
LC set at the Step S125 is substantially opposed to the RFID
circuit element To position or not). The determination at this time
can be also made by detecting a feeding distance after the
identifier PM of the base tape 101 is detected at the Step S10 by a
predetermined known method as in Step S20 in the above-mentioned
FIG. 15. This procedure is repeated till the communication position
is reached and the determination is satisfied, and when reached,
the determination is satisfied and the routine goes on to the
subsequent Step S220.
[0184] At Step S220, similarly to Step S25, rotation of the tape
feed roller 27, the ribbon take-up roller 106 and the feeding
roller 51 is stopped, and the feeding-out of the printed tag label
tape 109 with print is stopped in the state where the loop antenna
LC is substantially opposed to the RFID circuit element To. Also,
power feeding to the print head 23 is stopped, and the printing
(full printing) of the label print R is stopped (interrupted) (See
FIG. 10H).
[0185] After that, the routine goes on to Step S400, where
information is transmitted/received by wireless communication
between the antenna LC and the RFID circuit element To, and
information transmission/reception processing is performed to write
information created at the Step S115 in FIG. 16 in the IC circuit
part 151 of the RFID circuit element To (or reading out information
stored in the IC circuit part in advance) (for detail, see FIG. 19,
which will be described later).
[0186] After that, the routine goes on to Step S230 and it is
determined if information transmission/reception at the Step S400
was successful or not. Specifically, at Step S400, it is determined
if F=0 or not, since it should be such that the flag F=1 in the
case of communication failure at Step S400 (See Step S437 in FIG.
19, which will be described later).
[0187] In the case of F=1, the determination is not satisfied, the
communication with the RFID circuit element To is considered to be
failed, the routine goes on to Step S700, and predetermined error
processing for notifying the communication failure on the label to
the operator is performed.
[0188] On the other hand, in the case of F=0, the determination is
satisfied, the communication with the RFID circuit element To is
considered to be successful, and the routine goes on to Step
S240.
[0189] At Step S240, similarly to Step S35 in FIG. 15, the tape
feed roller 27, the ribbon take-up roller 106, and the feeding
roller 51 are rotated/driven to resume feeding of the printed tag
label tape 109 with print, and printing of the label print R is
resumed by electrifying the print head 23.
[0190] At this time, if the power feeding stopped period of the
print head 23 becomes long to some degree after Step S220 because
the number of communication retry times (retry times) at the Step
S400 is large or the like, there is a possibility that the
temperature of the print head 23 is lowered. Thus, in order to cope
with this, at resumption of the printing at the Step S240, power
feeding to the print head 23 (energy amount per unit time) may be
made larger than usual.
[0191] After the Step S240, the routine goes on to Step S250, and
it is determined if the printed tag label tape 109 with print has
been fed to the above-mentioned printing end position (calculated
at Step S130 in the FIG. 16). The determination at this time can be
also made by detecting a feeding distance after the identifier PM
of the base tape 101 is detected at the Step S10 by a predetermined
known method, for example, as in the above. This procedure is
repeated till the printing end position is reached and the
determination is satisfied, and when reached, the determination is
satisfied and the routine goes on to the subsequent Step S260.
[0192] At Step S260, similarly to Step S25 in the FIG. 15, power
feeding to the print head 23 is stopped, and the printing (full
printing) of the label print R is stopped. At a result, the
printing of the label print R to the tag print area PE1 is
completed (See FIG. 10J).
[0193] After that, the routine goes on to Step S500, where the rear
print printing/rear half-cut processing is performed in which
printing of the above-mentioned rear pattern print R2 is carried
out on the rear print area PE3 located on the tape rear-end side
than the tag print area PE1 and after it is fed to the
predetermined rear half-cut position, the rear half-cut line HC2 is
formed by the half cutter 34 of the half cut unit 35 (for detail,
see FIG. 20, which will be described later).
[0194] When the above Step S500 or Step S700 is finished, this
routine is finished.
[0195] FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of the
above-mentioned Step S300. In the flow shown in FIG. 18, first at
Step S310, it is determined if the printed tag label tape 109 with
print has been fed to the above-mentioned printing end position
(calculated at Step S130 in the FIG. 16) similarly to Step S250 in
FIG. 17. The determination at this time can be also made by the
same method as in Step S250. This procedure is repeated till the
printing end position is reached and the determination is
satisfied, and when reached, the determination is satisfied and the
routine goes on to the subsequent Step S320.
[0196] At Step S320, similarly to Step S260 in the FIG. 17, power
feeding to the print head 23 is stopped, and the printing of the
label print R is stopped. At a result, the printing of the label
print R to the tag print area PE1 is completed (See FIG. 13H).
[0197] After that, the routine goes on to Step S330, where it is
determined if the printed tag label tape 109 with print has been
fed to the above-mentioned communication position with the loop
antenna LC similarly to Step S210 in FIG. 17. The determination at
this time can be also made by the same method as in Step S210. This
procedure is repeated till the communication position is reached
and the determination is satisfied, and when reached, the
determination is satisfied and the routine goes on to the
subsequent Step S340.
[0198] At Step S340, similarly to the Step S220, rotation of the
tape feed roller 27, the ribbon take-up roller 106 and the feeding
roller 51 is stopped, and the feeding of the tag label tape 109
with print is stopped in the state where the loop antenna LC is
substantially opposed to the RFID circuit element To (See FIG.
13I).
[0199] Step S400 after that is the same as FIG. 17, and the
information transmission/reception processing for
transmitting/receiving information by wireless communication
between the antenna LC and the RFID circuit element To is performed
(for detail, see FIG. 19, which will be described later).
[0200] Then, the routine goes on to Step S350, and it is determined
if the information transmission/reception was successful at Step
S400 based on whether F=0 is established or not.
[0201] In the case of F=1, the determination is not satisfied and
the routine goes on to Step S700, where predetermined error
processing is performed as in FIG. 17. In the case of F=0, the
determination is satisfied, the communication with the RFID circuit
element To is considered to be successful and the routine goes on
to Step S360.
[0202] At Step S360, similarly to Step S240 in FIG. 17, the tape
feed roller 27, the ribbon take-up roller 106, and the feeding
roller 51 are rotated/driven and feeding of the printed tag label
tape 109 with print is resumed (See FIG. 13J).
[0203] Since Step S500 and Step S600 after that are the same as in
FIG. 17, the description will be omitted.
[0204] FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of
Step S400 mentioned above in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18. In this example,
information writing in the above information writing and
information reading is used as an example in description.
[0205] First, at Step S405 in the flow shown in FIG. 19, a control
signal is output to the above-mentioned transmitting circuit 306
(See FIG. 6 and the like) through the input/output interface 113,
and a carrier wave given predetermined modulation is sent as the
"Erase" signal for initializing information stored in the memory
portion 157 of the RFID circuit element To the RFID circuit element
To as a writing target through the loop antenna LC. At a result,
the memory portion 157 of the RFID circuit element To is
initialized.
[0206] Next, at Step S410, a control signal is output to the
transmitting circuit 306 through the input/output interface 113,
and a carrier wave given predetermined modulation is sent as the
"Verify" signal for verifying contents of the memory portion 157 to
the RFID circuit element To as an information writing target
through the loop antenna LC, and a reply is prompted.
[0207] After that, at Step S415, a reply signal sent from the RFID
circuit element To as the writing target in correspondence with the
"Verify" signal is received through the loop antenna LC and taken
in through the reception circuit 307 (See FIG. 6 and the like) and
the input/output interface 113.
[0208] Next, at Step S420, on the basis of the received reply
signal, information in the memory portion 157 of the RFID circuit
element To is verified so as to determine if the memory portion 157
is normally initialized.
[0209] If the determination is not satisfied, the routine goes on
to Step S425, where one is added to M, and it is determined if M=5
or not at Step S430. In the case of M<4, the determination is
not satisfied but the routine returns to Step S405 and the same
procedure is repeated. In the case of M=5, the routine goes on to
Step S435, where an error display signal is output to the PC 118
through the input/output interface 113 and the communication line
NW so that corresponding writing failure (error) display is
performed and moreover, the above mentioned flag F=1 is set at step
S437 and this routine is finished. In this way, even if
initialization is not successful, retry is made up to five
times.
[0210] If the determination at Step S420 is satisfied, the routine
goes on to step S440, where a control signal is output to the
transmitting circuit 306, and the carrier wave given predetermined
modulation is sent to the RFID circuit element To as information
writing target through the loop antenna LC as a "Program" signal
for writing desired data in the memory portion 157 and the
information is written.
[0211] After that, a control signal is output to the transmitting
circuit 306, the carrier wave given predetermined modulation as the
"Verify" signal is sent to the RFID circuit element To as writing
target through the loop antenna LC, and a reply is prompted. After
that, at Step S450, the reply signal sent from the RFID circuit
element To as writing target in correspondence with the "Verify"
signal is received through the loop antenna LC and taken in through
the reception circuit 307 and the input/output interface 113.
[0212] Next, at Step S455, on the basis of the received reply
signal, the information stored in the memory portion 157 of the
RFID circuit element To is verified and it is determined if the
above-mentioned sent predetermined information is normally stored
in the memory portion 157 or not using a known error detection code
(CRC code: Cyclic Redundancy Check or the like).
[0213] If the determination is not satisfied, the routine goes on
to Step S460, where one is added to N, and it is further determined
at Step S465 if it is N=5 or not. In the case of N<4, the
determination is not satisfied and the routine returns to Step
S440, where the same procedure is repeated. In the case of N=5, the
routine goes on to Step S435, where the PC 118 is similarly caused
to display the corresponding writing failure (error), the
above-mentioned flag F=1 is set at step S437, and this routine is
finished. In this way, even if information writing is not
successful, retry is made up to five times.
[0214] If the determination at Step S455 is satisfied, the routine
goes on to step S470, where a control signal is output to the
transmitting circuit 306, and the carrier wave given predetermined
modulation as a "Lock" command is sent to the RFID circuit element
To as writing target through the loop antenna LC so as to prohibit
new information writing in the RFID circuit element To. At a
result, writing of the RFID tag information in the RFID circuit
element To as writing target is finished.
[0215] After that, the routine goes on to Step S480, combination of
the information written in the RFID circuit element To at the Step
S440 and the print information of the label print R already printed
on the tag print area PE1 by the print head 23 in correspondence
with that is output through the input/output interface 113 and the
communication line NW and stored in the information server IS and
the route server RS. This stored data is stored/held in the
database of each of the servers IS, RS so that it can be referred
to by the PC 118 as needed, for example. At a result, this routine
is finished.
[0216] FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of
the above-mentioned Step S500 in FIG. 17 or FIG. 18. In the flow
shown in FIG. 20, first, at Step S620, it is determined if the
printed tag label tape 109 with print has been fed to the
above-mentioned rear print printing start position (calculated at
Step S165 in the FIG. 16) or not. The determination at this time
can be also made by detecting a feeding distance after the
identifier PM of the base tape 101 is detected at the Step S10 by a
predetermined known method, for example, as in the above. This
procedure is repeated till the print printing start position is
reached and the determination is satisfied, and when reached, the
determination is satisfied and the routine goes on to the
subsequent Step S640.
[0217] At Step S640, similarly to the above, the print head 23 is
electrified so as to start printing of the pattern print R2 to the
rear print area PE3 (See FIGS. 10K and 13J).
[0218] After that, at Step S510, it is determined if a distance
between the position of the rear half-cut line HC2 set at the
above-mentioned Step S135 and the position of the cut line CL set
at the above-mentioned Step S140 are separated by more than a
predetermined distance set in advance. If the position of the rear
half-cut line HC2 and the position of the cut line CL are too close
to each other, the determination is not satisfied, it is determined
that providing of the rear half-cut line HC2 separately from the
cut ling CL is not appropriate, and the routine is finished. On the
other hand, if the position of the rear half-cut line HC2 and the
position of the cut line CL are sufficiently far from each other,
the determination is satisfied, and the routine goes on to Step
S520. The above Step S510 is a procedure to prevent such a state
that the cut line CL and the rear half-cut line HC2 are too close
to each other and the label is peeled off at the full-cut by the
cutting mechanism 15 or the separated tape adheres to the movable
blade or the like of the cutting mechanism 15, which might cause
nonconformity in apparatus operation.
[0219] At Step S520, similarly to Step S20, it is determined if the
printed tag label tape 109 with print has been fed to the
above-mentioned rear half-cut position (in other words, if the tag
label tape 109 with print has reached a position where the half
cutter 34 of the half cut mechanism 35 is opposed to the rear
half-cut line HC2 calculated at Step S135). The determination at
this time can be also made by detecting a feeding distance after
the identifier PM of the base tape 101 is detected at Step S10 by a
predetermined known method as in the above. This procedure is
repeated till the rear half-cut position is reached and the
determination is satisfied, and when reached, the determination is
satisfied and the routine goes on to the subsequent Step S530.
[0220] At Step S530, similarly to the above-mentioned Step S50 and
the like, a control signal is output to the feeding motor drive
circuit 121 and the tape discharge motor drive circuit 123 through
the input/output interface 113, driving of the feeding motor 119
and the tape discharge motor 65 is stopped, and rotation of the
tape feed roller 27, the ribbon take-up roller 106 and the feeding
roller 51 is stopped. At a result, in the state where the half
cutter 34 of the half cut mechanism 35 is opposed to the rear
half-cut line HC2 calculated at Step S135, feeding-out of the base
tape 101 from the first roll 102, feeding-out of the cover film 103
from the second roll 104, and feeding of the tag label tape 109
with print are stopped.
[0221] After that, the routine goes onto Step S540, where a control
signal is output to the half cutter motor drive circuit 128 as in
the Step S30 so as to rotate the half cutter 34, and the rear
half-cut processing is performed that the cover film 103, the
adhesive layer 101a, the base film 101b, and the adhesive layer
101c of the printed tag label tape 109 with print are cut off and
the rear half-cut line HC is formed (See FIG. 10L and FIG.
13K).
[0222] Then, the routine goes on to Step S550, where the tape feed
roller 27, the ribbon take-up roller 106, and the feeding roller 51
are rotated/driven similarly to the Step S35 so as to resume
feeding of the printed tag label tape 109 with print.
[0223] After that, the routine goes on to Step S660, and it is
determined if the printed tag label tape 109 with print has been
fed to the above-mentioned rear print printing end position
(substantially set at Step S160 and Step S165 in the FIG. 16). The
determination at this time can be also made by detecting a feeding
distance after the identifier PM of the base tape 101 is detected
at the Step S10 by a predetermined known method, for example, as in
the above. This procedure is repeated till the rear print printing
end position is reached and the determination is satisfied, and
when reached, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes
on to the subsequent Step S680.
[0224] At Step S680, similarly to the above-mentioned Step S260,
power feeding to the print head 23 is stopped, and printing of the
pattern print R2 is stopped. At a result, printing of the pattern
print R2 on the rear print area PE3 is completed (See FIG. 10M and
FIG. 13M) and this routine is finished.
[0225] In the label producing apparatus of the first embodiment
constructed as above, the predetermined label print R is carried
out by the print head 23 on the tag print area PE1 of the cover
film 103, the tag label tape 109 with print in the lamination
structure including three layers of the cover film 103, the
adhesive layer 101c and the separation sheet 101d is fed, and the
tag label tape 109 with print is cut off by the cutting mechanism
15 to a predetermined length so as to produce the RFID label T.
[0226] At this time, the predetermined pattern print R1 is carried
out by the print head 23 on the front print area PE2 located at the
tape tip end side than the tag print area PE1 in the cover film
103, and the predetermined pattern print R2 is carried out by the
print head 23 on the rear print area PE3 located at the tape rear
end side than the tag print area PE1 in the cover film 103. Since
the pattern prints R1, R2 are various additional information
notified to the label users in relation to the production of the
RFID label T, the portion other than the tag print area PE1 for the
label print R corresponding to the transmission/reception contents
can be effectively utilized without wasting it as a margin and can
be used for various applications. Therefore, convenience for the
label users can be improved.
[0227] Also, particularly in this embodiment, by cutting the layers
other than the separation sheet 101d, which is left uncut, by the
half cut unit 35 and forming the front/rear half-cut lines HC1,
HC2, when a user is to separate the other layers (label body 103,
101a to 101c) from the separation sheet 101d in order to affix the
produced RFID label T to an affixing target, they can be easily
separated by fingertips. Also, since the tag print area PE1 is
located on the side of the label body 103, 101a to 101c but the
front print area PE2 and the rear print area PE3 remain on the tape
side by this separation upon use of the label, non-indispensable
additional information or the like not particularly required to be
printed on the label body 103, 101a to 101c for affixing can be
used by printing the pattern prints R1, R2 on the front print area
PE2 and the rear print area PE3.
[0228] Note that, in the above, a case where the half cut unit 35
cuts those other than the separation sheet 101d in the tag label
tape 109 with print is described as an example, but not limited to
this, only the separation sheet 101d may be cut off on the
contrary.
[0229] The first embodiment is not limited to the above, but
various variations are possible within a range not departing from
its gist and technical idea. The variations will be described below
in order.
[0230] (1-1) When the Tape is not to be Bonded:
[0231] That is, instead of the case where print is made on the
cover film 103 different from the base tape 101 provided with the
RFID circuit element To and they are bonded to each other as in the
first embodiment, the present disclosure is applied to a cartridge
for the tag-label producing apparatus for direct print on the cover
film provided at the tag tape.
[0232] FIG. 21 is a plan view illustrating a detailed structure of
a cartridge 7' of this variation and corresponds to the
above-mentioned FIG. 4. The same reference numerals are given to
the portions equivalent to those in FIG. 4 and the like and the
description will be omitted as appropriate.
[0233] In FIG. 21, the cartridge 7' has a first roll 102' around
which a thermal tape 101' is wound and a tape feed roller 27' that
feeds the thermal tape 101' in the direction outside the cartridge
7'.
[0234] The first roll 102' has the band-state transparent thermal
tape 101' on which a plurality of the RFID circuit elements To is
sequentially formed in the longitudinal direction wound around a
reel member 102a'. The reel member 102a' is rotatably fitted and
stored in a boss 95 erected on the bottom surface of the cartridge
7'.
[0235] The thermal tape 101' wound around the first roll 102' is in
the three-layered structure in this example (See a partially
enlarged view in FIG. 21) in which a cover film 101a' made of
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and the like, an adhesive layer
101b' made of an appropriate adhesive, and a separation sheet 101c'
are laminated in this order from the side wound inside toward the
opposite side.
[0236] On the back side of the cover film 101a', the loop antenna
152 configured in the loop-coil shape for transmission/reception of
information is provided integrally in this example, and the IC
circuit part 151 is formed so as to be connected to that, which
constitute the RFID circuit element To. On the back side of the
cover film 101a', the separation sheet 101d' is bonded to the cover
film 101a' through the adhesive layer 101b'. Further on the surface
of the separation sheet 101c', a predetermined identifier for
feeding control (an identifier painted in black in this example.
Alternatively, it may be a drilled hole substantially penetrating
the thermal tape 101' by laser machining or the like.) PM is
provided at a predetermined position corresponding to each RFID
circuit element To (the position on the front side than the tip end
of the antenna 152 on the front side in the feeding direction in
this example) as with the above-mentioned separation sheet
101d.
[0237] When the cartridge 7' is mounted to the cartridge holder 6
and the roller holder 25 is moved from the separated position to
the contact position, the thermal tape 101' is held between the
print head 23 and the platen roller 26 and between the tape feed
roller 27' and a sub roller 28'. Then, the tape feed roller 27',
the sub roller 28' and the platen roller 26 are rotated in
synchronization, and the thermal tape 101' is fed out of the first
roll 102'.
[0238] The fed-out thermal tape 101' is supplied from an opening
portion 94 to the print head 23 on the downstream side in the
feeding direction while it is guided by a substantially cylindrical
reel 92 rotatably fitted by insertion into a reel boss 91 erected
on the cartridge bottom surface. The print head 23 has its
plurality of heating elements electrified by the above-mentioned
print-head drive circuit 120 (See FIG. 6), by which the label print
R is printed on the surface of the cover film 101a' of the thermal
tape 101' and formed as the printed tag label tape 109 with print
and then, fed out of the cartridge 7' from a carry-out exit 96.
[0239] After feeding out of the cartridge 7', an access
(information reading/writing) of the IC circuit part 151 is made
through the above-mentioned loop antenna LC. After that, it is only
necessary to perform the feeding by the feeding roller 51, cutting
by the cutting mechanism 15 and the like similarly to the first
embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.
[0240] The half cut unit 35 is different from those corresponding
to the so-called laminate type described in FIG. 3 and the like.
That is, in the construction described in FIG. 3 and the like, the
cradle 36 is located on the print head 23 side, while the half
cutter 34 is on the platen roller 26 side. This is the construction
for performing half-cut from the surface opposite to the separation
sheet of the produced tape. However, when the thermal tape is used
as in this variation (also when the ink ribbon is used in the type
not using the laminate, which will be described later using FIG.
22), the separation sheet is located on the side opposite to that
of the laminate type. Therefore, in order to apply the half-cut to
a portion other than the separation sheet, arrangement of the
cradle 36 and the half cutter 34 is made opposite. That is, the
half cutter 34 is located on the print head 23 side, while the
cradle 36 on the platen roller 26 side.
[0241] In this example, in order to enable automatic detection on
the apparatus side of cartridge type information and the like
relating to the cartridge 7', an RFID circuit element Tc for
cartridge storing the information on the cartridge 7' in advance is
disposed on an outer peripheral wall surface 93 of the cartridge
7'. Also, on a side wall portion 6A opposite to the RFID circuit
element Tc in the cartridge holder 6, an antenna AT is provided for
transmission/reception of a signal through non-contact wireless
communication with the RFID circuit element Tc.
[0242] In this variation, also, though not shown in detail, the
distance L from the tip end position in the tape feeding direction
of the identifier PM to the tip end in the tape feeding direction
of the RFID circuit element To in the thermal tape 101' is set in
advance slightly larger than the distance Lo in the tape feeding
direction between the mark sensor 127 and the print head 23
similarly to the first embodiment. As a result, by the same method
as that described in the first embodiment using FIGS. 10 to 14, in
printing by the print head 23 and feeding of the printed tag label
tape 109 with print, by carrying out the pattern prints R1, R2 on
the front/rear print areas PE2, PE3, the portion other than the tag
print area PE1 on which the label print R is printed corresponding
to the transmission/reception contents can be effectively utilized
without wasting it as a margin, by which it can be made useful in
various applications and convenience of label users is
improved.
[0243] In the configuration of the above variation, the thermal
tape is used as a tag tape to carry out the print only by heating
of the print head 23, not particularly using an ink ribbon or the
like, but not limited to this, a normal ink ribbon can be used for
the print as in the first embodiment.
[0244] FIG. 22 is a plan view illustrating a detailed structure of
a cartridge 7'' of such a variation and corresponds to the
above-mentioned FIG. 21 and FIG. 4. The same reference numerals are
given to the equivalent portions as those in FIG. 21 and FIG. 4 and
the description will be omitted as appropriate.
[0245] In FIG. 22, the cartridge 7'' of this variation has a first
roll 102'' around which a base tape 101'' is wound.
[0246] The first roll 102'' has the band-state transparent base
tape 101'' on which a plurality the RFID circuit elements To is
sequentially formed in the longitudinal direction wound around a
reel member 102a'.
[0247] The base tape 101'' wound around the first roll 102'' is in
the three-layered structure in this example (See a partially
enlarged view in FIG. 22) in which a colored base film 101a'' made
of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and the like, an adhesive layer
101b'' made of an appropriate adhesive, and a separation sheet
101c'' are laminated in this order from the side wound inside
toward the opposite side.
[0248] On the back side of the base film 101a'', the loop antenna
152 constructed in the loop-coil shape for transmission/reception
of information is integrally provided in this example and the IC
circuit part 151 is formed so as to be connected to it, by which
the RFID circuit element To is configured. On the back side of the
base film 101a'', the separation sheet 101c'' is bonded to the base
film 101a'' by the adhesive layer 101b''. Also, on the surface of
the separation sheet 101c'', similarly to the above, a
predetermined identifier (an identifier painted in black in this
embodiment. Alternatively, it may be a drilled hole penetrating the
base tape 101'' by laser machining or the like.) PM is provided at
a predetermined position corresponding to each RFID circuit element
To (the position on the front side from the tip end of the antenna
152 on the front side in the feeding direction in this
example).
[0249] When the cartridge 7'' is mounted to the cartridge holder 6
and the roller holder 25 is moved from the separated position to
the contact position, the base tape 101'' and the ink ribbon 105
are held between the print head 23 and the platen roller 26 and
between the tape feed roller 27' and the sub roller 28'. Then, the
tape feed roller 27', the sub roller 28' and the platen roller 26
are rotated in synchronization, and the base tape 10111 is fed out
of the first roll 102''.
[0250] On the other hand, the plurality of heating elements of the
print head 23 is electrified by the print-head drive circuit 120
(See FIG. 6), the label print R corresponding to the stored
information of the RFID circuit element To is printed on the
surface of the base film 101a'' of the base tape 101' and formed as
the printed tag label tape 109 with print and then, fed out of the
cartridge 7''.
[0251] After feeding out of the cartridge 7'', an access
(information reading/writing) of the IC circuit part 151 through
the above-mentioned loop antenna LC is made. After that, it is only
necessary to execute the feeding by the feeding roller 51, cutting
by the cutting mechanism 15 and the like similarly to the first
embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.
[0252] In this variation, also, the distance L from the tip end
position in the tape feeding direction of the identifier PM to the
tip end in the tape feeding direction of the RFID circuit element
To in the base tape 101'' is set in advance slightly larger than
the distance Lo in the tape feeding direction between the mark
sensor 127 and the print head 23 similarly to the variation in the
FIG. 21. As a result, by the same method as that described in the
first embodiment using FIGS. 10 to 14, in printing by the print
head 23 and feeding of the printed tag label tape 109 with print'',
by carrying out the pattern prints R1, R2 on the front/rear print
areas PE2, PE3, the portion other than the tag print area PE1 on
which the label print R is printed corresponding to the
transmission/reception contents can be effectively utilized without
wasting it as a margin, by which it can be made useful in various
applications and convenience of label users is improved.
[0253] (1-2) Others
[0254] In the above, a pressure roller as the feeding portion is
provided by which the tag label tape 109 with print, which is a tag
medium, and the cover film 103, which is the print-receiving
medium, are driven and relative movement is given between the
tag-label tape or the cover film and the fixedly installed print
head 23 or the loop antenna LC, but not limited to this. That is,
on the contrary, the print head 23 may be driven by a predetermined
moving mechanism (together with the loop antenna LC) so that the
relative movement is given between the print head and the tag
medium in the sheet-state or the like or the print-receiving
medium. In this case, also, by executing the similar control in the
relative positional relation similar to the above, the effects
similar to the above-mentioned ones can be obtained.
[0255] Also, in the above, the half cut unit 35 is provided
separately from the cutting mechanism 15, but not limited to this.
That is, the half cut may be made by controlling a rotating angle
of the movable blade 41 of the cutting mechanism 15 so as to make
it smaller than that at the full-cut so that the cutting mechanism
and the half cut unit can be used singularly. In this case, too,
the same effect can be obtained. Alternatively, a half cut unit
that forms the half-cut line HC1 and a half cut unit that forms the
half-cut line HC2 may be provided.
[0256] Moreover, in the above, the case where the RFID label
provided with the RFID circuit element To is to be produced was
described as an example, but not limited to this. That is, as long
as the effect of the present disclosure is to be obtained that the
length of the label body portion is made variable according to the
print length and favorable label handling by users is ensured, the
present disclosure may be applied to the label producing apparatus
that produces a ordinary print label not provided with the RFID
circuit element To and the print label produced by this. In this
case, in the label producing apparatus 1, the loop antenna LC, the
transmitting circuit 306, and the reception circuit 307 can be
omitted, and the RFID circuit element To is not needed, either, on
the label side.
[0257] Also, in the first embodiment, the loop antenna is used as
the apparatus antenna LC and the antenna 152 on the RFID circuit
element To side, and information is transmitted/received by
magnetic induction (including electromagnetic induction, magnetic
coupling and other non-contact contact methods through a magnetic
field), but not limited to this, a dipole antenna, a patch antenna
or the like may be used as the above two antennas so as to perform
information transmission/reception by wave communication.
[0258] A second embodiment of the present disclosure will be
described below using FIGS. 23 to 42. In this embodiment, effective
utilization of a margin is promoted by executing allocation for
producing an ordinary label (without RFID tag) in a margin after
the RFID label is produced. The equivalent portions to those in the
first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and the
description will be omitted or simplified as appropriate.
[0259] FIG. 23 is a system block diagram illustrating an RFID tag
manufacturing system to which a tag-label producing apparatus of
the second embodiment is applied and corresponds to FIG. 1 of the
first embodiment.
[0260] In an RFID tag manufacturing system 2001 (tag-label
manufacturing system) shown in FIG. 23, the tag-label producing
apparatus (RFID tag information communication apparatus) 2002 is,
similarly to the tag-label producing apparatus 1 of the first
embodiment, connected to the route server RS, a plurality of
terminals 2005 (in this example, arrangement of three terminals of
"a terminal A", "a terminal B", and "a terminal C") for operating
the tag-label producing apparatus 2002, the general-purpose
computer 118b, and the information server IS through the
communication line NW and constitutes a (wide area, for example)
network.
[0261] The above terminal 2005 is a so-called personal computer
(PC) terminal provided with a display 2005a, an operating portion
2005b such as a keyboard (may be a mouse or the like), and has a
CPU 2005c (not shown), which is a central processing unit, a ROM
(not shown) and a RAM (not shown), which are memory portion and the
like. The CPU 2005c receives an input of various information and an
input of execution commands of various processing through the
operating portion 2005b and outputs the input information, commands
and the like to other equipment as appropriate through the
communication line NW. Also, the display 2005a makes predetermined
display such as information received through the communication line
NW (the detail will be described later).
[0262] FIG. 24 is a conceptual block diagram illustrating a
detailed structure of the tag-label producing apparatus 2002.
[0263] In FIG. 24, a main body 2008 of the tag-label producing
apparatus 2002 is provided with a cartridge holder portion (not
shown) formed in the shape of a recess, and a cartridge 2100 for
producing an RFID label Tt provided with the RFID circuit element
To (or an ordinary label Tu not provided with an RFID circuit
element To. Both details will be described later) is detachably
mounted to the holder portion.
[0264] The main body 2008 has a housing 2009 provided with the
cartridge holder portion to which a cartridge 2100 is fit and also
constituting the outline, a print head (thermal head in this case)
2010 that carries out predetermined print on the cover film 103, a
driving shaft 2011 that drives the ink ribbon 105 after the
printing on the cover film 103, a pressure roller drive shaft 2012
for bonding the cover film 103 and the base tape 101 and for
feeding it out from the cartridge 2100 as a tag-label tape with
print 2110, an antenna 2014 that transmits/receives signals with an
RFID circuit element To provided in the tag-label tape with print
2110 (the details will be described later) via wireless
communication using a high frequency band such as a UHF band (in
this example), a cutter 2015 that cuts the tag-label tape with
print 2110 at a predetermined timing and to a predetermined length,
thereby forming the RFID label Tt or the ordinary label Tu, a pair
of feeding guides 2013 that sets and holding the RFID circuit
element To at a predetermined access area facing the antenna 2014
at the time of receiving/transmitting signals by the wireless
communication described above and guiding the tape 2110 (=RFID
label Tt or the ordinary label Tu) after the cutting, a tape-feed
roller 2017 that feeds and outputting the guided RFID label Tt or
the ordinary label Tu to a carry-out exit 2016, and a tape-end
sensor 2018 that detects presence of the RFID label T at the
carry-out exit 2016.
[0265] Also, the main body 2008 has a radio frequency circuit 2021
for accessing (for writing or reading) the RFID tag circuit element
To via the antenna 2014, a signal processing circuit 2022 that
processes signals read out from the RFID circuit element To, a
motor to drive cartridge shaft 2023 that drives the driving shaft
2011 and the tape-feed-roller drive shaft 2012, a cartridge shaft
drive circuit 2024 that controls the driving of the motor to drive
cartridge shaft 2023, a print-head drive circuit 2025 that controls
power feeding to the print head 2010, a solenoid 2026 that drives
the cutter 2015 for the cutting operation, a solenoid drive circuit
2027 that controls the solenoid 2026, a tape-feeding-roller motor
2028 that drives the feeding roller 2017, a tape-feeding-roller
drive circuit 2029 that controls the tape-feeding-roller motor
2028, a sensor 2020 that detects an irregular shape of each of the
plurality of identifiers provided at a detected portion 2190
provided at the cartridge 2100 by a known method (mechanically or
optically, for example), an operation portion 2052 made of a
plurality of character input keys and various function keys into
which character data and instruction data relating to print can be
input by an operator, a display portion 2053 which can display the
character data and instruction data input from the operation
portion 2052 or a notification signal (the detail will be described
later) to the operator, and a control circuit 2030 that controls
the entire operation of the tag-label producing apparatus 2002 via
the radio frequency circuit 2021, the signal processing circuit
2022, the cartridge shaft drive circuit 2024, the print-head drive
circuit 2025, the solenoid drive circuit 2027, the
tape-feeding-roller drive circuit 2029 and the like.
[0266] The control circuit 2030 is a so-called microcomputer.
Though detailed description will be omitted, the control circuit
2030 includes a CPU, which is a central processing unit, ROM, RAM,
non-volatile memory and the like, and executes signal processing
according to a program stored in the ROM in advance using the
temporary storage function provided by the RAM. Furthermore, the
control circuit 2030 is connected to the communication line NW via
the input/output interface 2031, for example, so that information
can be exchanged among the route server RS, the other terminals
2005, the general-purpose computer 118b, the information server IS
and the like connected to the communication line NW.
[0267] FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram for illustrating the
detailed structure of the cartridge 2100.
[0268] In FIG. 25, the cartridge 2100 includes a housing 2100A, the
first roll 102 disposed within the housing 2100A, the second roll
104, around which the cover film 103 is wound, a ribbon-supply-side
roll 111 that feeds out the ink ribbon 105, the ribbon take-up
roller 106, and a pressure roller 2107 that presses and bonds the
base tape 101 and the cover film 103 to each other so as to form
the tag-label tape with print 2110 while feeding it in the
direction of the arrow A.
[0269] The base tape 101 has a four-layered structure (in this
example) including the adhesive layer 101a, the base film 101b, the
adhesive layer 10c, and the separation sheet 101d laminated in this
order as in the first embodiment.
[0270] The functional configuration of the RFID circuit element To
provided at the base film 101b is the same as that shown in FIG. 5
in the first embodiment. That is, the RFID circuit element To
includes the antenna 152 (however, constructed by a dipole antenna
or the like different from the first embodiment) that
transmits/receives a signal contactlessly using a high frequency
such as the UHF band or the microwave band with the antenna 2014 on
the tag-label producing apparatus 2002 side and the IC circuit part
151 connected to this antenna 152.
[0271] The separation sheet 101d is used when the RFID label Tt
finally completed in the label state (or the ordinary label Tu) is
affixed to a predetermined article or the like, and it is affixed
to the article or the like by the adhesive layer 101c by peeling
off the separation sheet. In this embodiment, the identifier
(identifying mark) may be provided for feeding control on the
separation sheet 101d or the like as in the first embodiment.
[0272] The second roll 104 has the cover film 103 wound around as
in the first embodiment, and the ink ribbon 105 is brought into
contact with the back face of the cover film 103 by being pressed
by the print head 2010.
[0273] The ribbon take-up roller 106 and the pressure roller 2107
are rotated/driven by a driving force of a motor 2023 to drive
cartridge shaft (See the above-mentioned FIG. 24) which is a pulse
motor, provided outside the cartridge 2100, respectively, for
example, transmitted to the driving shaft 2011 and the
tape-feed-roller drive shaft 2012.
[0274] At the detected portion 2190, information relating to
presence of the RFID circuit element To in the cartridge 2100
(cartridge information) is stored/held (that is, information on
whether the base tape 101 provided with the RFID circuit element To
is provided or a ordinary tape not provided with the RFID circuit
element To is provided, and the former information is stored in
this example). Other than the above information on presence of a
tag, tag attribute parameters (tape width, arrangement interval of
RFID circuit elements To, communication sensitivity of IC circuit
part 151 and the antenna 152, memory capacity of the IC circuit
part 151, communication protocol used for communication, electric
wave transmission output, frequency, communicable distance and the
like) may be recorded. In this specification, various information
including the above tag presence information and the tag attribute
parameters is collectively called as "tape attribute parameter
information". Before making an access from the antenna 2014 to the
RFID tag information of the IC circuit part 151 of each of the RFID
circuit elements To provided at the base tape 101, the information
is read out and a corresponding signal is input to the control
circuit 2030. It may be so configured that correspondence
information between the type of the cartridge 2100 and the various
parameter data (the detail will be described later) relating to the
RFID circuit element To is stored/held in advance, the type
information of the cartridge 2100 stored in the detected portion
2190 is read out by the sensor 2020 and an access is made to the
information server IS on the basis of that so as to obtain various
tape attribute parameter information and the like.
[0275] The behavior of the base tape 101 and the cover film 103 in
the cartridge 2100 configured as above is substantially the same as
that of the first embodiment. That is, the base tape 101 fed out of
the first roll 102 is supplied to the pressure roller 2107. On the
other hand, the cover film 103 is fed out of the second roll 104,
and the plurality of heating elements of the print head 2010 are
electrified by the print-head drive circuit 2025. As a result, the
print R (See FIG. 28, which will be described later) is printed on
the back face of the cover film 103. Then, the base tape 101 and
the cover film 103 on which printing is finished are bonded and
integrated by the pressure roller 2107 and the sub roller 2109,
formed as the tag-label tape with print 2110 and fed out of the
cartridge 2100.
[0276] FIG. 26 is a functional block diagram illustrating functions
of the radio frequency circuit 2021 in detail. In FIG. 26, the
radio frequency circuit 2021 includes a transmitting portion 2032
that transmits a signal to the RFID circuit element To through the
antenna 2014, a receiving portion 2033 that inputs the reflected
waves from the RFID circuit element To through the antenna 2014,
and a transmit-receive splitter 2034.
[0277] The transmitting portion 2032 includes a crystal oscillator
2035 that generates a carrier wave for accessing (reading or
writing) the RFID tag information stored in the IC circuit part 151
of the RFID circuit element To according to a control signal from
the control circuit 2030, a PLL (Phase Locked Loop) 2036, a VCO
(Voltage Controlled Oscillator) 2037, a transmission multiplying
circuit 2038 (however, it may be replaced by an amplitude factor
variable amplifier or the like in the case of amplitude modulation)
that modulates (in this case, amplitude modulation according to the
"TX_ASK" signal supplied from the signal processing circuit 2022)
the carrier wave generated as described above according to a signal
supplied from the signal processing circuit 2022, and a variable
transmission amplifier 2039 that amplifies the modulated waves
(RFID tag information) modulated by the transmission multiplying
circuit 2038 with an amplification factor determined according to a
"TX_PWR" signal supplied from the control circuit 2030. The UHF
frequency band and the microwave band are preferably used for the
carrier wave generated as described above and the output from the
transmission amplifier 2039 is transmitted to the antenna 2014
through the transmit-receive splitter 2034 and is supplied to the
IC circuit part 151 of the RFID circuit element To. Incidentally,
the RFID tag information is not limited to the signals thus
modulated but it may be only a plain carrier wave.
[0278] The receiving portion 2033 includes a first receiving signal
multiplying circuit 2040 that multiplies the reflected wave
received from the RFID circuit element To through the antenna 2014
by the carrier wave generated as described above for demodulation,
a first bandpass filter 2041 that extracts only the signals within
the necessary frequency band from the output of the first receiving
signal multiplying circuit 2040, a first receiving signal amplifier
2043 that amplifies the output of the first bandpass filter 2041, a
first limiter 2042 that further amplifies the output of the first
receiving signal amplifier 2043 and converting the output thus
amplified into a digital signal, a second receiving signal
multiplying circuit 2044 that multiplies the reflected wave
received from the RFID circuit element To through the antenna 2014
by the carrier wave that have been delayed by a phase shifter 2049
by 90.degree. after having been generated as described above for
demodulation, a second bandpass filter 2045 that extracts only the
signals within the necessary frequency band from the output of the
second receiving signal multiplying circuit 2044, a second
receiving signal amplifier 2047 that amplifies the output of the
second bandpass filter 2045, and a second limiter 2046 that further
amplifies the output of the second receiving signal amplifier 2047
and converting the output thus amplified into a digital signal.
Then, the signal "RXS-I" output from the first limiter 2042 and the
signal "RXS-Q" output from the second limiter 2046 are input to the
signal processing circuit 2022 for processing.
[0279] Furthermore, the outputs of the first receiving signal
amplifier 2043 and the second receiving signal amplifier 2047 are
also input to an RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) circuit
2048. The signal "RSSI" indicating the intensity of these signals
is input to the signal processing circuit 2022. As described above,
the tag-label producing apparatus 2002 of this embodiment performs
demodulation of the reflected wave from the RFID circuit element To
by I-Q quadrature demodulation.
[0280] As described above, the tag-label producing apparatus 2002
of this embodiment can accept a label production operation signal
from the plurality of terminals 2005 (hereinafter referred to as
"JOB" as appropriate. The detail will be described later) (See FIG.
23) and is provided with a function which can produce an RFID label
Tt or an ordinary label Tu according to the label production
operation signal. An essential part of this embodiment is that
after a predetermined length of the base tape 101 has been consumed
(or consumption is scheduled) for producing the RFID label Tt by
the label production operation signal from one of the plurality of
terminals 2005, when there remains a surplus portion of the base
tape 101, the label production operation signal corresponding to
the surplus length can be newly accepted from any of the plurality
of terminals 2005 (including the terminal 2005 concerned) so that
the surplus portion can be effectively utilized for production of
the ordinary label Tu. The detail and principle methods will be
described below.
[0281] FIG. 27 is a top view illustrating an example of an
appearance of the RFID label Tt and the ordinary label Tu formed by
completing the information writing of the RFID circuit element To
and cutting of the tag-label tape with print 2110 as mentioned
above. Also, FIG. 28A is a cross sectional view by the
XXVIIIA-XXVIIIA' section in FIG. 27 and FIG. 28B is a cross
sectional view by the XXVIIIB-XXVIIIB' section in FIG. 27.
[0282] In FIGS. 27, 28A and 28B, an example is illustrated that a
single RFID label Tt and two ordinary labels Tu1, Tu2, totaling in
three labels, are produced using a tape of a fixed length L
corresponding to the arrangement pitch of the RFID circuit elements
To in the base tape 101.
[0283] In FIGS. 27 and 28A, the RFID label Tt is in the
five-layered structure in which the cover film 103 is added to the
four-layered structure shown in FIG. 25 made of four layers of the
cover film 103, the adhesive layer 101a, the base film 101b, the
adhesive layer 10c, and the separation sheet 101d from the cover
film 103 side (upper side in FIG. 28A) to the opposite side (lower
side in FIG. 28A). The RFID circuit element To including the
antenna 152 provided on the back side of the base film 101b as
mentioned above is provided in the adhesive layer 101c, and the
print R (characters of "RF-ID" representing the type of the RFID
label Tt in this embodiment) is printed on the back face of the
cover film 103.
[0284] In FIGS. 27 and 28B, the ordinary label Tu1 is constructed
in five layers of the cover film 103, the adhesive layer 101a, the
base film 101b, the adhesive layer 101c, and the separation sheet
101d as in the RFID label Tt. On the back face of the cover film
103, a print R'1 (alphabets of "XYZ" in this example) is printed in
the label longitudinal direction. Note that, the sectional
structure of the ordinary label Tu2 has also the five layers as in
FIG. 28B, and a print R2' (alphabets of "abc" in this example) is
printed in the label width direction on the back face of the cover
film 103.
[0285] As above, the tag-label producing apparatus 2002 further
produces the ordinary label Tu (two ordinary labels Tu1, Tu2 in
this example. See FIGS. 29B and 29C) using the surplus portion
generated in the tape (a portion by two-dot chain line in FIG. 29A)
after a portion is consumed (or consumption is scheduled) for
producing the RFID label Tt. At a result, the surplus portion can
be effectively utilized without waste.
[0286] FIG. 30 shows an example of information of a label which can
be currently produced and is displayed on the display 2005a of the
terminal 2005 when an operation for producing the RFID label Tt and
the ordinary label Tu is accepted from the plurality of terminals
2005 in the tag-label producing apparatus 2002. In this example, a
case is shown that when a JOB is accepted by the terminal A, the
terminal B and the terminal C in this order, it is displayed on the
display 2005a of each terminal.
[0287] First, FIG. 30A shows an example of an accepting situation
displayed on the display 2005a of the terminal A. At a result
display, the operator of the terminal A can verify the information
of the label which can be currently produced. Here, a state where
the RFID label of not longer than 20 cm (=substantially equivalent
to the fixed length L corresponding to the arrangement pitch of the
above-mentioned RFID circuit element To) (hereinafter, referred to
as a label with tag, as appropriate) can be produced, and a label
with tag with the length up to 20 cm can be produced from the
terminal A.
[0288] FIG. 30B shows an example of the accepting situation
displayed on the display 2005a of any of the terminals (the
terminal B in this example) when a JOB of a label with tag of 7 cm
was transmitted (a label production operation signal is output)
from the terminal A in the state of FIG. 30A. At a result display,
the operator of the terminal B can verify the information of the
label which can be currently produced. Here, such a situation is
shown that the ordinary label (hereinafter referred to as label
without tag as appropriate) Tu with 13 cm or less obtained from 20
cm-7 cm can be currently produced since the JOB of the label with
tag of 7 cm was accepted at the terminal A earlier. Therefore, the
label without tag with the length up to 13 cm can be produced from
the terminal B at this time.
[0289] FIG. 30C shows an example of the accepting situation
displayed on the display 2005a of any of the terminals (the
terminal C in this example) when a JOB of a label without tag of 8
cm was transmitted from the terminal B in the state of FIG. 30B. By
this display, the operator of the terminal C can verify the
information of the label which can be currently produced. Here,
such a situation is shown that the label without tag of 5 cm or
less obtained from 20 cm-7 cm-8 cm can be currently produced since
the JOB of the label with tag of 7 cm has been already accepted at
the terminal A and then, the label without tag of 8 cm was accepted
at the terminal B. Therefore, the label without tag with the length
up to 5 cm can be produced from the terminal C at this time.
[0290] If the length of the label without tag which can be produced
is short, the display content may be displayed such that the label
without tag in vertical writing (label width direction) can be
produced, as shown in FIG. 29C, for example.
[0291] As above, since the label information which can be currently
produced is displayed as the latest information, when a surplus of
a tag tape is generated, the length information on the surplus is
displayed so that the operator can recognize it, and the operator
can effectively utilize the surplus without wasting it.
[0292] In FIG. 30, a case was described that the label information
which can be currently produced is displayed, but not limited to
this. For example, history information (JOB which has been already
accepted) may be displayed. FIG. 31A shows such a variation. In
this example, the JOB which has been already accepted is displayed
as history information in the order from the above as "acceptance
state/history information", and a state is shown that first, the
JOB of the label with tag of 7 cm has become as having been already
accepted, and then, the JOB of the label without tag of 8 cm has
become as having been already accepted (corresponding to the state
in the above-mentioned FIG. 30C).
[0293] In this example, a label image is displayed in a plurality
of stages in a time series, but history information may be
displayed on the image display of one label (by superimposing or
the like). Also, in addition to the display shown in FIG. 31A (or
instead of it), the label information which can be currently
accepted may be displayed as shown in FIG. 31B. In this "currently
acceptable label information", too, it is preferable to make the
information on the currently available label identified easily by
an operator through shading display or the like of the length of
the label scheduled to be produced in the display of the history
information as in FIG. 31A. At this time, display such as "Is label
without tag to be produced? (Y/N)" may be made as in the
above-mentioned FIGS. 30A to 30C. But in the example in FIG. 31B,
display is made so that selection can be made on whether printing
is to be done or not according to the currently available label
length. At this time, when printing is selected, display may be
made for further selection between printing with print contents
reduced (or shortened) according to the currently available label
length and printing in the vertical writing as in the
above-mentioned FIG. 29C (which will be displayed as "recommended
information" which can maximize effective utilization of the
surplus portion).
[0294] In FIGS. 31A and 31B, a unit to be displayed as history
information is one cycle (the detail will be described later), but
the history information of the previous cycle may be displayed.
[0295] As above, by displaying the history information, the
operator can recognize previous production history information
together with the changing (decreasing) label information which can
be newly accepted according to the label production, and
information quantity which can be referred to for effective
utilization of the base tape 101 is increased and convenience can
be improved.
[0296] As the result of acceptance of JOB with the length of the
tape for one cycle sequentially from the appropriate terminal 2005
based on the above display, a margin portion is to be used without
a waste. In this state, production of each label is executed. FIG.
32 is a view illustrating an example of display on the display
2005a that the label production has been completed (completion is
notified to the operator). This example shows a state where the JOB
of the three labels in the above-mentioned FIG. 27 (RFID label Tt,
ordinary label Tu1, ordinary label Tu2) is accepted and allocated
to the portion of the length L without a waste and then, production
completion of the labels Tt, Tu1, Tu2 in a lump sum without a waste
is notified to the operator.
[0297] FIG. 33 shows an example displaying that if a function which
can start production of a label (even though the operator accepts
that a waste will be generated in the surplus portion of the tag
tape) is provided (=forced printing, the detail will be described
later), a question on whether the forced printing function is to be
done or not is displayed on the display 2005a before the accepted
JOB satisfies the tape length of one cycle.
[0298] In this example, first, the JOB of the label with tag of 7
cm becomes as having been already accepted, and then, the JOB of
the label without tag of 8 cm becomes as having been already
accepted, but the label length of 5 cm still remains as a surplus
portion and the label without tag of this length can be produced.
Thus, it is shown that the label production is not carried out yet
but in the standby state (corresponding to the state in the
above-mentioned FIG. 30C). In this case, "Is label to be produced
now?" is displayed to ask if the above label with tag of 7 cm and
the above label without tag of 8 cm are to be produced immediately
even knowing that the above 5 cm will be wasted as the surplus
portion. By making such a display, particularly in the case of a
need that the label should be produced immediately even though it
would lead to a surplus portion in the tag tape, the need is
handled and the label can be produced immediately.
[0299] The processing at the terminal 2005 and the tag-label
producing apparatus 2002 executed when the label production
operation is performed by an operator using the operating portion
2005b of the terminal 2005 will be described below. In the above
description, the case was described that a plurality of JOBs is
accepted for the length of one cycle as a predetermined length unit
of the base tape 101 (length substantially equal to the arrangement
pitch of the RFID circuit elements To), predetermined determination
is made for the tape length for one cycle, and printing is carried
out by the unit of one cycle. In the following flow, the case will
be described that the plurality of JOBs is accepted for the length
of two cycles as the predetermined length unit (length
substantially equal to twice of the arrangement pitch of the RFID
circuit elements To), the predetermined determination is made for
one cycle of then, and the printing is carried out.
[0300] FIGS. 34 and 35 are flowcharts illustrating a control
procedure executed by a CPU 2005c of the terminal 2005.
[0301] In FIG. 34, when the operator performs a production
operation of a tag-label through the operating portion 2005b of the
appropriate terminal 2005, this flow is started.
[0302] First, at Step S2101, an inquiry signal of JOB allocation
information is output to the tag-label producing apparatus 2002
through the communication line NM. The JOB allocation information
includes information on whether there is any JOB already accepted
at the tag-label producing apparatus 2002 or if there is an
accepted JOB, on which part of the tape for two cycles it is
allocated (the details of JOB allocation will be described
later).
[0303] In response to the inquiry signal at the Step S2101, the
tag-label producing apparatus 2002 calculates label information
which can be currently produced and transmits a response signal
including this information, and the routine goes on to the
subsequent Step S2102, where the response signal transmitted from
the tag-label producing apparatus 2002 side (including information
such as type of labels which can be currently produced and label
length information) is received.
[0304] Then, at Step S2103, based on the information received at
the above Step S2102, a display control signal is output to the
display 2005a and the label information is displayed (See the
above-mentioned FIGS. 30 and 31). At this time, the similar display
may be made on a display portion 2053 of the tag-label producing
apparatus 2002.
[0305] After that, the routine goes on to Step S2104, and it is
determined if a label production start instruction signal is input
or not from the operating portion 2005b by operation of an
operator. When the operator performs the production start
instruction through the operating portion 2005b according to the
display on the display 2005a at Step S2103, the determination at
Step S2104 is satisfied, and the routine goes on to Step S2105.
Until the production start instruction is given, the determination
at Step S2104 is not satisfied, and the routine returns to Step
S2101 and the same procedure is repeated.
[0306] At Step S2105, a JOB according to the above production
operation by the operator through the operating portion 2005b is
generated and output to the tag-label producing apparatus 2002
through the communication line NW. The JOB includes JOB
identification information for identifying each JOB, label length
information (to be produced by the JOB) corresponding to the JOB,
and RFID tag information identification signal indicating whether
or not there is information to be written in the RFID circuit
element To when the RFID label T including the RFID circuit element
To is to be produced.
[0307] After that, the routine goes on to Step S2106, and it is
determined if printing completion information corresponding to the
JOB transmitted at the above Step S2105 is received from the
tag-label producing apparatus 2002. If allocation and printing
execution (the detail will be described later) of the JOB
transmitted at Step S2105 at the tag-label producing apparatus 2002
are completed and the printing completion information is received
from the tag-label producing apparatus, the determination is
satisfied, the routine goes on to Step S2107, where a display
control signal corresponding to the received printing completion
information is output to the display 2005a to indicate that the
printing of the tag-label has been completed (see the
above-mentioned FIG. 32), and this flow is finished.
[0308] On the other hand, if there is no printing completion
information corresponding to the JOB transmitted at Step S2105
received, the determination is not satisfied, and the routine goes
on to Step S2111. As for presence of the receiving of the printing
completion signal, it may be determined as no receiving when a
predetermined time has elapsed by a timer or the like.
[0309] At Step S2111, similarly to Step S2101, an inquiry signal of
JOB allocation information is output to the tag-label producing
apparatus 2002 through the communication line NW.
[0310] After that, the routine goes on to Step S2112, a response
signal is received from the tag-label producing apparatus 2002
similarly to Step S2102, and at Step S2113, the label information
is displayed similarly to Step S2103.
[0311] At this time, the JOB having been allocated at the
corresponding tag-label producing apparatus 2002 has not reached
one cycle (in total) and a surplus portion remains in the base tape
101, and thus, printing has not been completed yet at Step S2106
(the detail will be described later). The label information
displayed on the display 2005a or the like at Step S2113 is
information including such contents (label length information which
can be further produced with the remaining portion in order not to
waste the label). Therefore, at Step S2113, display of the
"recommended information" or the like may be made which recommends
label production with the above remaining portion in order that the
operator can surely recognize this. By the procedure at Steps S2111
to Step S2113, the operator can recognize that the allocated JOB
has not reached one cycle but a surplus portion remains in the
tape.
[0312] When the above Step S2113 is finished, the routine goes on
to Step S2115, and it is determined if a forced production start
instruction signal is input from the operating portion 2005b by
operation of the operator. When the operator gives an instruction
to start label production immediately through the operating portion
2005b knowing that a wasteful portion would be generated in the
tape (=forced printing start) according to the display on the
display 2005a, the determination at Step S2115 is satisfied, and
the routine goes onto Step S2116. If the operator does not perform
the forced printing start operation at Step S2115, the routine goes
on to Step S2121, which will be described later in FIG. 35.
[0313] At Step S2116, a forced printing command is transmitted
(output) to the tag-label producing apparatus 2002 so as to start
label printing by the tag-label producing apparatus 2002. When the
tag-label producing apparatus 2002 completes the label printing and
transmits the corresponding printing completion information, the
transmitted printing completion information is received at Step
S2117, a corresponding display control signal is output to the
display 2005a at Step S2118 so as to display that the forced
printing is completed, and this flow is finished.
[0314] In FIG. 35, when the forced printing is not instructed and
the determination is not satisfied at Step S2115, it is determined
at Step S2121 if a production cancellation instruction signal is
input from the operating portion 2005b by operation of the
operator. If the operator performs a label production cancellation
operation (printing cancellation operation) through the operating
portion 2005b, the determination at Step S2121 is satisfied and the
routine goes on to Step S2141.
[0315] At Step S2141, an instruction signal to delete the JOB which
has been already transmitted at Step S2105 is output (transmitted)
to the tag-label producing apparatus 2002. In response to this,
when the label producing apparatus 2002 completes deletion of the
JOB and transmits a corresponding JOB deletion response signal, the
transmitted JOB deletion response signal is received at Step S2142,
a corresponding display control signal is output to the display
2005a at Step S2143 to display that the printing has been
cancelled, and this flow is finished.
[0316] On the other hand, when the operator does not perform the
printing cancellation operation at Step S2121, the determination is
not satisfied, and the routine goes on to Step S2122. At Step
S2122, a display control signal is output to the display 2005a, for
example, to display that the modification of the printing contents
can be accepted ("Are the printing contents to be modified? (Y/N)"
or the like), and it is determined if a modification instruction
signal on the printing contents is input from the operating portion
2005b.
[0317] If a modification instruction of the printing contents is
not given, the determination is not satisfied, the routine goes on
to Step S2151, the display control signal is output to the display
2005a and the like to indicate that the printing is currently in
standby (indication of "The printing is now available for
acceptance" or the like). After that, the routine goes on to Step
S2152.
[0318] At Step S2152, (when a new JOB is allocated to the tag-label
producing apparatus 2002 by the operation from another terminal
2005 in this printing standby state, for example, the total of the
label length information by each JOB has reached one cycle and the
surplus portion runs out) it is determined if the printing
completion information has been received from the tag-label
producing apparatus 2002 similarly to Step S2106 and Step S2117.
The determination is not satisfied till the printing completion
information is received, and the routine returns to Step S2151 and
the above display is made. When the printing completion information
is received from the tag-label producing apparatus 2002, the
determination at Step S2152 is satisfied and the routine goes on to
Step S2153.
[0319] At Step S2153, the display control signal is output to the
display 2005a based on the received printing completion information
similarly to Step S2107 and Step S2118 so as to display that the
printing has been completed, and this flow is finished.
[0320] On the other hand, at Step S2122, if the modification
instruction of the printing contents is given by the operator, the
determination is satisfied, and the routine goes on to Step
S2123.
[0321] At Step S2123, similarly to Step S2141, the instruction
signal to delete the JOB which has been already transmitted at Step
S2105 is output (transmitted) to the tag-label producing apparatus
2002. In response to this, when the label producing apparatus 2002
completes deletion of the JOB and transmits a corresponding JOB
deletion response signal, the transmitted JOB deletion response
signal is received at Step S2124 similarly to Step S2142, and the
routine goes on to Step S2125.
[0322] At Step S2125, an inquiry signal on the JOB allocation
information is output to the tag-label producing apparatus 2002
through the communication line NW, similarly to Step S2101 and Step
S2111.
[0323] After that, the routine goes on to Step S2126, a response
signal from the tag-label producing apparatus 2002 is received
similarly to Step S2112 and Step S2102, and the label information
is displayed at Step S2217 similarly to Step S2113 and Step
S2103.
[0324] At this time, since the printing has not been completed at
the corresponding tag-label producing apparatus 2002 and a single
JOB has been deleted at Step S2124, a label length available for
production gets longer than before. The label information displayed
on the display 2005a and the like at Step S2127 includes such
contents, but similarly to the above, in order to surely consume
the surplus portion (in order that availability for consumption is
to be recognized), display of "recommended information" to
recommend label production using the remaining portion may be
made.
[0325] When Step S2127 is finished, the routine goes on to Step
S2128. At Step S2128, it is determined if the modification
instruction signal of the printing contents is input from the
operating portion 2005b by the operation of the operator. If the
operator performs the printing contents modification operation
through the operating portion 2005b, the determination at Step
S2128 is satisfied, and the routine goes on to Step S2129. If the
printing contents have not been modified, Step S2128 is not
satisfied, and the routine returns to Step S2121 and the same
procedure is repeated.
[0326] At Step S2129, a JOB after modification corresponding to the
printing contents modification is transmitted (output) to the
tag-label producing apparatus 2002 similarly to Step S2105. After
that, similarly to Step S2117, the printing completion information
transmitted from the tag-label producing apparatus 2002 is received
at Step S2130, and then, similarly to Step S2118, the display 2005a
and the like displays that the printing has been completed at Step
S2131, and the flow is finished.
[0327] FIG. 36 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure
executed by the control circuit 2030 of the tag-label producing
apparatus 2002 in response to the control of the terminal 2005 side
shown in FIGS. 34 and 35.
[0328] In FIG. 36, first, at Step S2205, it is determined if a
signal (JOB or JOB deletion instruction signal or the like) is
input from any of the terminals 2005 through the communication
circuit 3 and the input/output interface 2031 at Step S2105 in FIG.
34 and Step S2129 in FIG. 35. If a signal is input, the
determination is satisfied, and the routine goes on to the
subsequent Step S2207.
[0329] At Step S2207, it is determined if the signal input at Step
S2207 is the above-mentioned JOB deletion instruction signal or
not.
[0330] When the signal is the JOB deletion instruction signal, the
determination is satisfied, the routine goes on to Step S2208, and
the latest JOB at this time is deleted. At the same time, a
deletion completion signal is generated and output to the
corresponding terminal 2005 through the communication circuit 3 and
the input/output interface 2031 (See Step S2124 or Step S2142 shown
in the above-mentioned FIG. 13). After that, the routine goes on to
Step S2232.
[0331] On the other hand, if the input signal is a JOB and not the
JOB deletion instruction signal at Step S2207, the determination is
not satisfied but the routine goes on to Step S2210.
[0332] At Step S2210, detailed information of the JOB is read in
(extracted, obtained) such as the printing information to be
printed on the labels Tt, Tu by the print head 2010 and the RFID
tag information to be written in the IC circuit part 151 of the
RFID circuit element To by the antenna 2014 (only at production of
the label with tag. Including at least identification information
of RFID circuit element To) from the signal input from the terminal
2005 at Step S2205. At production of the label without tag, only
the printing information is read in.
[0333] After that, at Step S2220, the JOB read at Step S2210 is
stored in the RAM or a non-volatile memory in the control circuit
2030 once, and the flag F indicating if the communication is
favorable or not and the variable N representing the number of
communication retry times are initialized to zero. And the routine
goes on to Step S2230, and JOB execution processing for allocating
information corresponding to each JOB (in detail, the JOB
identification information, label length information, RFID tag
information identification signal and the like. Hereinafter
referred to as JOB information as appropriate) is performed in a
predetermined order (the details will be described later).
[0334] After that, at Step S2232, it is determined if a JOB
allocation information inquiry signal is input from any of the
terminals 2005 at Step S2101, Step S2111 in FIG. 34 and Step S2125
at FIG. 35 through the communication circuit 3 and the input/output
interface 2031. If the JOB allocation information inquiry signal is
input, the determination is satisfied, and the routine goes on to
the subsequent Step S2235. If the JOB allocation information
inquiry signal is not input, the determination is not satisfied,
and this flow is finished without going through Step S2235.
[0335] At Step S2235, the JOB allocation information allocated at
Step S2230 at this time is generated and output to the operating
portion 2005b from which the JOB allocation information inquiry
signal is output through the communication line NW. The state of
the allocation information at this time may be output of the
already accepted JOB information, the label information (including
the above-mentioned recommended information) which can be currently
produced (accepted) or history information. When Step S2235 is
completed, this flow is finished.
[0336] FIGS. 37 to 39 show a flowchart illustrating the detail of
the JOB execution processing executed at Step S2230 in the
above-mentioned FIG. 36. In this JOB execution processing, the JOB
accepted at the tag-label producing apparatus 2002 (in detail,
including the above-mentioned JOB identification information, label
length information, RFID tag information identification signal and
the like. Hereinafter referred to similarly as "JOB") is accepted
for the total of the label length information required for each JOB
(the total length in which the plurality of JOBs are allocated) up
to two cycles and allocated. Also, while the JOBs are allocated for
two cycles at the maximum in this way, printing for one cycle is
started every time a predetermined condition is met (if the total
of the label length information by the JOB of the label with tag
and the label length information by the JOB of the label without
tag becomes one cycle, for example). A tape for one cycle includes
a single RFID circuit element To, and the distance from this RFID
circuit element To the RFID circuit element To arranged next is the
tape length of one cycle. Therefore, with the tape for one cycle,
at least one label with tag can be produced, and if there is still
a surplus portion, a label without tag can be produced with the
remaining tape portion.
[0337] In FIG. 37, first at Step S2300, it is determined if the JOB
to be allocated which was read at the above-mentioned Step S2210
(accepted JOB) includes the above-mentioned forced printing
instruction (an instruction to finish allocation of the JOB and
start printing immediately whether or not the total length of the
JOBs satisfies a predetermined condition, which will be described
later. See Step S2116 in FIG. 34.)
[0338] If it is a forced printing instruction, the determination is
satisfied, and after the JOB is allocated to the first cycle at
Step S2301 (as mentioned above, since two cycles make one unit, a
cycle of the tape printed first is referred to as the first cycle
and the subsequent cycle as the second cycle. The same applies to
the following), the routine goes on to Step S2500 shown in FIG. 38,
which will be described later, and the label production processing
for the first cycle is executed (the detail will be described
later).
[0339] On the other hand, at Step S2300, if it is not a forced
printing instruction, the determination is not satisfied and the
routine goes on to Step S2302. At Step S2302, it is determined if
the JOB to be allocated (accepted JOB) read and obtained at the
above-mentioned Step S2210 is a JOB for producing a label with tag
(hereinafter referred to as JOB with tag as appropriate). If the
JOB to be allocated is a JOB with tag, the determination is
satisfied, and the routine goes on to Step S2304. If it is a JOB
for producing a label without tag (hereinafter referred to as JOB
without tag as appropriate), the determination is not satisfied and
the routine goes on to Step S2332, which will be described
later.
[0340] At Step S2304, it is determined if the JOB with tag has been
already allocated to the first cycle. If the JOB with tag is not
allocated to the first cycle, the determination is not satisfied
but the routine goes on to Step S2306.
[0341] At Step S2306, it is determined if the remaining tape length
of the first cycle is longer than the label length information of
the JOB with tag. If the remaining tape length of the first cycle
is longer than the label length of the JOB with tag, the
determination is satisfied, the routine goes on to Step S2308, and
the JOB with tag is allocated to the first cycle.
[0342] In this case (though detailed description is omitted),
allocation is made at an allocation position corresponding to the
arrangement information of the RFID circuit elements To in the base
tape 101 (=particularly where in the tape the IC circuit part 151,
the antenna 152 are located in this example). That is, (in this
case) it is made sure that the first portion of one cycle is used
for production of the label with tag. Therefore, the JOB with tag
is surely allocated to the first portion of the tape for one cycle.
Allocation of the label with tag at Step S2314, which will be
described later, temporary allocation of the label with tag at Step
S2342, Step S2410, Step S520, or allocation of the label with tag
at Step S2301 are also carried out in the same way.
[0343] At Step S2306, the reason why the length of the remaining
tape at the first cycle is determined is that the JOB without tag
(information to produce a label without tag) has already been
allocated to the first cycle in some cases.
[0344] As above, when the JOB with tag is allocated to the first
cycle at Step S2308, then, the routine goes on to Step S2602 of the
flow shown in FIG. 38, which will be described later.
[0345] On the other hand, when the JOB with tag has been already
allocated to the first cycle and the determination is satisfied at
Step S2304 (or when the length of the label with tag exceeds the
range of the remaining tape length at the first cycle at Step S2306
and the determination is not satisfied), the routine goes on to
Step S2310, and it is determined if the JOB with tag is allocated
to the second cycle.
[0346] If the JOB with tag has not been allocated to the second
cycle, the determination at Step S2310 is not satisfied and the
routine goes on to Step S2312. At Step S2312, it is determined if
the remaining tape length of the second cycle is longer than the
label length information of the JOB with tag. If the remaining tape
length of the second cycle is longer than the length of the label
with tag, this determination is satisfied, and the routine goes on
to Step S2314.
[0347] At Step S2314, after the JOB with tag is allocated to the
second cycle, the routine goes on to Step S2602 of the flow shown
in FIG. 38, which will be described later (the detail will be
described later). At Step S2312, the reason why the remaining tape
length of the second cycle is checked is the same as the
above-mentioned reason why the tape length of the first cycle is
checked.
[0348] On the other hand, at Step S2310, if the JOB with tag has
been already allocated to the second cycle, the determination is
satisfied and the routine goes on to Step S2324. At Step S2324, the
allocation to the first one cycle is completed (finished) with the
JOB having been allocated to the first one cycle so far.
[0349] After that, the routine goes on to Step S2500, where the
label production processing for the first one cycle is executed
(the detail will be described later). After that, the routine goes
on to Step S2328, and the JOB at the second cycle is moved to the
first cycle. At a result, the second cycle is moved over to the
first cycle and allocation is made. When Step S2328 is finished,
the routine goes on to the above-mentioned Step S2312. If the
length of the label with tag exceeds the remaining tape length of
the second cycle at Step S2312, the determination at Step S2312 is
not satisfied and the routine returns to Step S2324 and the same
procedure is repeated.
[0350] On the other hand, if the JOB to be allocated is found to be
a JOB without tag at the above-mentioned Step S2302, the
determination at Step S2302 is not satisfied and the routine goes
on to Step S2332, where it is determined if the JOB with tag has
been already allocated to the first cycle. If the JOB with tag has
been already allocated to the first cycle, the determination is
satisfied, and the routine goes on to Step S2334.
[0351] At Step S2334, it is determined if the remaining tape length
at the first cycle is longer than the label length of the JOB
without tag. If the remaining tape length of the first cycle is not
longer than the length of the label without tag, the determination
at Step S2334 is satisfied, and the routine goes on to Step
S2336.
[0352] At Step S2336, the JOB without tag is allocated from the
rear of the first cycle (tape portion adjacent to the second cycle)
on the first-come first-served basis. In this case (though the
detail is omitted), the allocation is made at an allocated position
not overlapping the allocation position corresponding to the
arrangement information of the RFID circuit elements To in the base
tape 101 (=particularly where in the tape the IC circuit position
151, the antenna 152 are located in this case). That is, while the
above-mentioned JOB with tag is surely allocated to the first
portion (front) of the tape for one cycle, the JOB without tag is
allocated from the end portion (rear) of the tape for one cycle in
this example, and the JOB without tag accepted earlier is allocated
earlier, and the allocated JOBs without tag are not re-sorted.
Therefore, in the tape for one cycle, the JOBs are allocated from
the front (first portion) and the rear (end portion) toward the
center (center portion). The JOBs without tag may be re-sorted or
they may be allocated subsequent to the JOB with tag (sequential
allocation from the front of the tape for one cycle). Allocation of
the label without tag at Step S2346, Step S2406, Step S2414, Step
S2506, Step S2524, which will be described later, or allocation of
the label without tag at Step S2301 are also carried out in the
same way.
[0353] When the Step S2336 is finished, the routine goes on to Step
S2602 of the flow shown in FIG. 38, which will be described
later.
[0354] Also, at Step S2334, if the length of the remaining tape in
the first cycle is less than the label length of the JOB without
tag, the determination is not satisfied and the routine goes on to
Step S2502 of the flow shown in FIG. 38, which will be described
later.
[0355] On the other hand, if the JOB with tag has not been
allocated to the first cycle in Step S2332, the determination is
not satisfied and the routine goes on to Step S2342. At Step S2342,
temporary allocation (temporary allocation of the JOB with tag) for
executing the subsequent procedure on the premise that the label
with tag is allocated to the first cycle is carried out. The length
of the label with tag to be temporarily allocated at this time is
determined to a predetermined length in advance (the minimum length
which can produce an RFID label, for example) so that the JOB with
tag can be allocated within a range of this predetermined length at
the subsequent actual allocation of the JOB with tag.
[0356] After that, the routine goes on to Step S2334, where it is
determined if the remaining tape length of the first cycle is
longer than the label length of the JOB without tag. The remaining
tape length of the first cycle at this time is the tape length
obtained by subtracting the length of the temporary allocation of
the JOB with tag (temporary allocation portion) and if the JOB
without tag has been already allocated, the length for that portion
from the tape length for one cycle. If the length of the label
without tag is not longer than the range of the remaining tape
length of the first cycle, the determination is satisfied, and the
routine goes on to Step S2346.
[0357] At Step S2346, the JOB without tag is allocated from the
rear of the first cycle on the first-come first-served basis. After
that, at Step S2348, the allocation of the JOB with tag at the
temporary allocation portion (the first portion of the first cycle
where the label with tag of the minimum length can be produced)
executed at Step S2342 is canceled. When Step S2246 is finished,
the routine returns to Step S2302 and the same procedure is
repeated.
[0358] On the other hand, at the above-mentioned Step S2344, if the
remaining tape length of the first cycle is less than the length of
the label without tag, the determination at Step S2344 is not
satisfied, the allocation of the JOB with tag at the temporary
allocation portion (the first portion of the first cycle where the
label with tag of the minimum length can be produced) executed at
Step S2342 is canceled, and the routine goes on to Step S2402 of
the flow shown in FIG. 39, which will be described later (the
detail will be described later).
[0359] FIG. 38 is a flowchart illustrating the control procedure
continued from that shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 37.
[0360] First, at Step S2602 continued from Step S2308, Step S2314,
Step S2336 in FIG. 37, it is determined if the total label length
of the JOBs for which allocation has been already completed
including the JOB with tag has reached substantially one cycle (in
detail, within a predetermined range close to one cycle or not).
The predetermined range at this time is a length which allows a
surplus portion generated when printing for the cycle is started
even if the total label length is less than the tape length for one
cycle, and it shall be determined in advance. Therefore, when the
length is within this predetermined range, it is considered that
the JOB allocation for one cycle has been completed (allocation
completed). The determination is made for the cycle of a
determination unit at Step S2602 (two cycles in this example).
[0361] When the total label length of the JOBs having been
allocated becomes substantially equal to one cycle and reaches the
predetermined range, the determination at Step S2602 is satisfied,
and the routine goes on to Step S2604. If the predetermined range
is not reached, the determination is not satisfied, the routine
returns to Step S2302 in FIG. 37, and the same procedure is
repeated.
[0362] At Step S2604, it is considered that the JOB allocation for
one cycle has been completed and the cycle concerned is set as the
first cycle, and the other (subsequent) cycle is set as the second
cycle.
[0363] After that, the routine goes on to Step S2500 similar to the
above, and the label production processing for the one cycle is
executed (the detail will be described later). After that, at Step
S2608, similarly to Step S2328 in the above-mentioned FIG. 37, the
JOB of the second cycle is moved to the first cycle, and this flow
is finished.
[0364] On the other hand, at Step S2502 to which the routine moves
after the determination at Step S2334 in FIG. 37 is not satisfied,
it is determined if the JOB with tag is allocated to the second
cycle. If the JOB with tag has been already allocated to the second
cycle, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes on to
Step S2504, where it is determined if the remaining tape length of
the second cycle is longer than the label length of the JOB without
tag this time. If the remaining tape length of the second cycle
remains longer than the label without tag, the determination at
Step S2504 is satisfied, and the routine goes on to Step S2506,
where the JOB without tag is allocated from the rear of the second
cycle on the first-come first-served basis, and the routine goes on
to Step S2602.
[0365] On the other hand, if the remaining tape length of the
second cycle is less than the label without tag at Step S2504, the
determination is not satisfied, and the routine goes on to Step
S2510.
[0366] At Step S2510, it is considered that there is no room for
new allocation for two cycles left in the label length, the JOB
allocation for the first cycle is completed for the label
production for the first cycle, the routine goes on to Step S2500,
and the label production processing for the one cycle is executed
(the detail will be described later). After that, at Step S2514,
similarly to Step S2608 in FIG. 37, the JOB for the second cycle is
moved to the first cycle.
[0367] After that, the routine goes on to Step S2520, where the
temporary allocation (temporary allocation of the JOB with tag) for
executing the subsequent procedure on the premise that the label
with tag has been allocated to the second cycle is executed. At
this time, the length of the label with tag for the temporary
allocation is determined as the minimum length which can be
produced as an RFID label, for example, similarly to the temporary
allocation at Step S2342 in FIG. 37.
[0368] At Step S2522, similarly to Step S2504, it is determined if
the remaining tape length of the second cycle is longer than the
label length of the JOB without tag this time. If it remains longer
than the label without tag, the determination is satisfied, the
routine goes on to Step S2524, and the JOB without tag is allocated
from the rear of the second cycle on the first-come first-served
basis similarly to Step S2514, and the routine goes on to Step
S2526.
[0369] After that, at Step S2526, the allocation of the JOB with
tag of the temporary allocation portion (the first portion of the
second cycle which can produce a label with tag of the minimum
length) executed at Step S2524 is cancelled similarly to Step
S2348. When Step S2526 is finished, the routine returns to Step
S2302, and the same procedure is repeated.
[0370] On the other hand, at Step S2522, if the remaining tape
length of the second cycle is less than the label length of the JOB
without tag this time, the determination is not satisfied and the
routine goes on to Step S2530.
[0371] At Step S2530, the allocation of the JOB with tag of the
temporary allocation portion (the first portion of the second cycle
which can produce a label with tag of the minimum length) is
cancelled similarly to Step S2526, and the routine goes on to Step
S2532.
[0372] At Step S2532, it is considered that there is no room for
new allocation for two cycles left in the label length, the JOB
allocation for the first cycle is completed for the label
production of the first one cycle, the routine goes on to Step
S2500, and the label production processing for the one cycle is
executed (the detail will be described later). After that, at Step
S2536, the JOB for the second cycle is moved to the first cycle
similarly to Step S2514 and the like, the routine returns to Step
S2520, and the same procedure is repeated.
[0373] FIG. 39 is a flowchart executed subsequently to Step S2350
in the above-mentioned FIG. 37. First, at Step S2402, it is
determined if the JOB with tag is allocated to the second cycle
similarly to Step S2310. If the JOB with tag has been already
allocated to the second cycle, the determination is satisfied and
the routine goes on to Step S2404.
[0374] At Step S2404, similarly to Step S2522 and the like, it is
determined if the remaining tape length of the second cycle is
longer than the label length of the JOB without tag this time. If
it remains longer than the length of the label without tag, the
determination is satisfied, the routine goes on to Step S2406,
where the JOB without tag is allocated from the rear of the second
cycle on the first-come first-served basis similarly to Step S2524,
and the routine returns to Step S2602 and the same procedure is
repeated.
[0375] On the other hand, at Step S2402, if the JOB with tag has
not been allocated to the second cycle, the determination is not
satisfied, the routine goes on to Step S2410, and the temporary
allocation to the second cycle (temporary allocation of the JOB
with tag) is executed similarly to Step S2520. The length of the
label with tag to be temporarily allocated is also determined to
the minimum length which can be produced as an RFID label, for
example, similarly to the above.
[0376] After that, at Step S2412, it is determined if the remaining
tape length of the second cycle is longer than the length of the
label without tag similarly to Step S2522. If it remains longer
than the length of the label without tag, the determination is
satisfied, the routine goes onto Step S2414, where the JOB without
tag is allocated from the rear of the second cycle on the
first-come first-served basis similarly to Step S2524 and the like,
and the routine goes on to Step S2416.
[0377] At Step S2416, similarly to Step S2526, the allocation of
the JOB with tag at the temporary allocation portion executed at
Step S2524 is canceled and then, the routine returns to Step S2302
and the same procedure is repeated.
[0378] On the other hand, if the remaining tape length of the
second cycle is less than the label length of the JOB without tag
this time at Step S2412, the determination is not satisfied and the
routine goes on to Step S2420.
[0379] At Step S2420, similarly to Step S2530, the allocation of
the JOB with tag at the temporary allocation portion is canceled,
and the routine goes on to Step S2422. At Step S2422, similarly to
Step S2532, the JOB allocation for the first cycle is completed for
the label production for the first one cycle similarly to Step
S2532 and the like, the routine goes on to Step S2500, and the
label production processing for the first cycle is executed (the
detail will be described later). After that, similarly to Step
S2426, the JOB for the second cycle is moved to the first cycle,
the routine returns to Step S2410, and the same procedure is
repeated.
[0380] FIG. 40 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of
the tag-label production processing at Step S2500.
[0381] In FIG. 40, first at Step S2250, a control signal is output
to a cartridge shaft drive circuit 2024 (See FIG. 24) so as to
rotate/drive the ribbon take-up roller 106 and the pressure roller
2107 by a driving force of the motor to drive cartridge shaft 2023.
At a result, the base tape 101 is fed out of the first roll 102 and
supplied to the pressure roller 2107, and the cover film 103 is fed
out of the second roll 104. At this time, a control signal is also
output to the print-head drive circuit 2025, the print head 2010 is
electrified, and the prints R, R' and the like such as characters,
symbols and barcodes corresponding to the JOB information read at
Step S2210 illustrated in FIG. 36 are printed on a predetermined
area in the cover film 103. Moreover, a control signal is output to
the tape-feeding-roller motor 2028 through the tape-feeding-roller
drive circuit 2029 so as to rotate/drive the feeding roller
2017.
[0382] As a result, as mentioned above, the base tape 101 and the
cover film 104 on which the printing has been finished are bonded
and integrated by the pressure roller 2107 and the sub roller 2109,
formed as the tag-label tape with print 2110, and fed out to the
direction outside the cartridge 2100.
[0383] After that, at Step S2260, it is determined if the
applicable JOB includes the RFID tag information (it is to produce
a label with tag) or not. If it is not production of a label with
tag, the routine goes on to Step S2281, which will be described
later. If it is production of a label with tag, the routine goes on
to Step S2265.
[0384] At Step S2265, it is determined if the tag-label tape with
print 2110 has been fed for a predetermined value C (a feeding
distance for which the RFID circuit element To which the cover film
103 with the corresponding print is bonded reaches the feeding
guide 2013). This feeding distance determination at this time can
be made by detecting an appropriate identifying mark provided on
the base tape 101 by a known tape sensor provided separately. If
the tape has been fed for the predetermined value, the
determination is satisfied, and the routine goes on to the
subsequent Step S2270.
[0385] At Step S2270, the writing processing is performed that the
RFID tag information is transmitted and written in the RFID circuit
element To (For detail, see FIG. 41, which will be described
later).
[0386] At the subsequent Step S2280, it is determined if the flag
F=0 or not. If the writing processing is normally completed, it is
still F=0 (See Step S2278 in the flow shown in FIG. 41, which will
be described later), and the determination is satisfied and the
routine goes on to Step S2281. On the other hand, if the writing
processing is not been normally completed for some reason, it
becomes F=1 (See Step S2278 in the flow shown in FIG. 41, which
will be described later), and the determination is not satisfied
and the routine goes on to Step S2282, where a control signal is
output to the print-head drive circuit 2025 so as to stop power
feeding to the print head 2010 and stop printing. After it is
apparently displayed that the RFID circuit element To is not a
non-defective product by interruption of printing in this way, the
routine goes on to Step S2283, which will be described later.
[0387] After that, at Step S2281, it is verified if the print on
the predetermined area to be processed at this time in the cover
film 103 (the area for the label length corresponding to the JOB
allocated respectively in the JOB execution processing) has been
all completed or not, and the routine goes on to Step S2283.
[0388] At Step S2283, it is determined if the tag-label tape with
print 2110 has been fed to a predetermined position to be cut off
by the cutter 2015 or not. Specifically, it is only necessary to
determine if the label length included in the JOB information has
gone beyond the cutter 2015 by a predetermined length (allowance
dimension) or not by detecting an appropriate identifying mark
(corresponding to each RFID circuit element To, for example)
provided on the base tape 101 (the separation sheet 101d, the cover
film 103 or the like in detail) by a known tape sensor provided
outside the cartridge 2100 (further downstream side in the feeding
direction than the cartridge 2015, for example).
[0389] Instead of this detection, determination may be made based
on the print information whether the length of the printed
character length of the prints R, R' to which the length of the
predetermined margin area is added exceeds the whole length of the
RFID circuit element To or not (if exceeded, the cutting of the
RFID circuit element To be bonded can be avoided by cutting outside
the margin area at least at the stage when the print of the cover
film 103 is completed).
[0390] If the determination at Step S2283 is satisfied, the routine
goes on to Step S2284. At Step S2284, a control signal is output to
the cartridge shaft drive circuit 2024 and the tape-feeding-roller
drive circuit 2029 so as to stop driving of the motor to drive
cartridge shaft 2023 and the tape-feeding-roller motor 2028 and
stop rotation of the ribbon take-up roller 106, the pressure roller
2107, and the feeding roller 2017. At a result, the feeding-out of
the base tape 101 from the first roll 102, the feeding-out of the
cover film 103 from the second roll 104 and the feeding of the
tag-label tape with print 2110 by the feeding roller 2017 is
stopped.
[0391] At the subsequent Step S2285, a control signal is output to
the solenoid drive circuit 2027 so as to drive the solenoid 2026
and the tag-label tape with print 2110 is cut off by the cutter
2015. As mentioned above, at this time, the tag-label tape with
print 2110 sufficiently goes beyond the cutter 2015, and by the
cutting by this cutter 2015, the RFID tag information is written in
the RFID circuit element To and the label-state RFID label Tt on
which a predetermined corresponding print is carried out or the
ordinary label Tu on which predetermined print is carried out is
produced.
[0392] After that, the routine goes on to Step S2286, where a
control signal is output to the tape-feeding-roller drive circuit
2029 so as to resume the driving of the tape-feeding-roller motor
2028 and rotate the feeding roller 2017. At a result, the feeding
by the feeding roller 2017 is resumed and the RFID label Tt or the
ordinary label Tu produced in the label state at Step S2285 is fed
toward the carry-out exit 2016 and discharged outside the apparatus
2 from the carry-out exit 2016.
[0393] After that, at Step S2287, information indicating that the
label production processing corresponding to the JOB has been
completed is transmitted to each terminal 2005 through the
communication line NW, and this routine is finished.
[0394] FIG. 41 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of
Step S2270.
[0395] In FIG. 41, the tag-label tape with print 2110 is fed by the
predetermined value C at the above-mentioned Step S2265, the
identification information (tag ID) of the RFID circuit element To
is set by a known appropriate method and then, first, at Step
S2271, a "Program" command to write desired data in the memory
portion 157 is output to the signal processing circuit 2022. Based
on this, the "Program" signal as the RFID tag information including
at least the identification information is generated and
transmitted to the RFID circuit element To as writing target
through the transmitting portion 2032 and the antenna 2014 of the
radio frequency circuit 2021 and the information is written in the
memory portion 157.
[0396] After that, at Step S2272, a "Verify" command for verifying
the contents of the memory portions 157 is output to the signal
processing circuit 2022. Based on this, the "Verify" signal as the
RFID tag information is generated at signal processing circuit 2022
and transmitted to the RFID circuit element To as writing target
through the transmitting portion 2032 and the antenna 2014 of the
radio frequency circuit 2021 and a reply is promoted.
[0397] And the routine goes on to Step S2273, where a reply
(response) signal transmitted (replied) from the RFID circuit
element To in correspondence with the "Verify" signal is received
through the antenna 2014 and taken in through the receiving portion
2033 and the signal processing circuit 2022 of the radio frequency
circuit 2021.
[0398] Next, at Step S2274, based on the received result at Step
S2273, the information stored in the memory portion 157 of the RFID
circuit element To is verified, and it is determined if the above
transmitted predetermined information is normally stored in the
memory portion 157 or not.
[0399] When the determination is not satisfied, the routine goes on
to Step S2275, one is added to the variable N of the
above-mentioned number of communication retry times and the routine
further goes on to Step S2276, where it is determined if N=5 or
not. In the case of N<4, the determination is not satisfied, the
routine returns to Step S2271, and the same procedure is repeated.
In the case of N=5, the routine goes on to Step S2277. At Step
S2277, an error display signal is output to the terminal 2005 and
the like through the input/output interface 2031 and the
communication line NW, the corresponding writing failure (error)
display is made, and then, the flag F=1 is set at Step S2278 and
this routine is finished. In this way, even if information writing
is not successful, retry is made up to five times in order to
ensure writing reliability.
[0400] On the other hand, if the determination at Step S2274 is
satisfied, the routine goes on to Step S2279, and a "Lock" command
for prohibiting subsequent information writing is output to the
signal processing circuit 2022. Based on this, the "Lock" signal is
generated at the signal processing circuit 2022, transmitted to the
RFID circuit element To as writing target through the radio
frequency circuit 2021, and new information writing in the RFID
circuit element To is prohibited. At a result, writing of the RFID
tag information in the RFID circuit element To as writing target is
completed, and the RFID circuit element To is discharged as above.
When Step S2279 is finished, this flow is finished.
[0401] As described above, in the tag-label producing apparatus
2002 of this second embodiment, the JOB for producing the RFID
label Tt or the ordinary label Tu corresponding to the operation
input by an operator in each of the operation terminals 2005 is
input to the control circuit 2030 side of the tag-label producing
apparatus 2002, and the label length information corresponding to
the JOB is sequentially stored at Step S2220 together with the JOB
identification information and RFID tag information identification
signal. Then, the label length information of each JOB sequentially
stored is sequentially allocated in a predetermined order with the
JOB identification information and the RFID tag information
identification signal at Step S2301, Step S2308, Step S2314, Step
S2336, Step S2346, Step S2506, Step S2524, Step S2406, Step S2414
and the like, and according to this allocated state, an instruction
signal for instructing label production is generated at Step S2500
and the labels Tt, Tu are produced.
[0402] In this way, in the second embodiment, the label production
is not immediately carried out for each operation input by the
operator, but after the label length information and the like of
the JOB is allocated in a predetermined state for each
predetermined length unit of the base tape 101 (two cycles in this
example), the label is produced according to the allocated state
(after it is determined if a predetermined condition is satisfied
or not at Step S2306, for example). At a result, if a surplus
portion is generated in the base tape 101 after the label length
information of the RFID label Tt production is allocated for
producing the RFID label T, at least one piece of the label length
information of the ordinary label Tu for the surplus length portion
can be allocated (See Step S2336 and the like). As a result, the
surplus portion other than the portion to be used for production of
the RFID label Tt in the base tape 101 is not wasted but can be
effectively utilized for production of the ordinary label Tu.
[0403] Also, particularly in the second embodiment, when the JOB
with tag is to be allocated at Step S2308 and the like, allocation
is made at an allocation position corresponding to the arrangement
information of the RFID circuit element To in the base tape 101
(=where in the tape the IC circuit part 151, the antenna 152 are
located or the like). At a result, at the allocation position
corresponding to the arrangement position of the RFID circuit
element To in the tag-label tape with print 2110, not the JOB for
producing the ordinary label Tu but the JOB for producing the RFID
label Tt can be surely allocated. Similarly, when the JOB without
tag is to be allocated at Step S2336 and the like, allocation is
made at an allocation position not overlapping the allocation
position corresponding to the arrangement information of the RFID
circuit element To in the base tape 101 (=where in the tape the IC
circuit part 151, the antenna 152 are located or the like). At a
result, the JOB for producing the ordinary label Tu can be
allocated at the allocation position corresponding to the
arrangement position of the RFID circuit element To in the
tag-label tape with print 2110, not overlapping even partially.
[0404] Also, particularly in the second embodiment, regardless of
the determination result at Step S2306 and the like, the labels Tt,
Tu are produced forcedly when the routine moves from Step S2301 to
Step S2500. At a result, particularly when there is a need to
produce a label immediately even if a surplus portion is generated
in the base tape 101, the label can be produced rapidly in response
to the need.
[0405] Also, particularly in the second embodiment, what type of
tape allocation is being made at the time of operation by the
operator is displayed by the displaying portion or the like by
outputting the allocation information to the terminal 2005 at Step
S2235 so that the operator can be surely notified of that. Also, at
this time, by outputting the length information of the RFID label
Tt or the ordinary label Tu which can be produced, what length of
the label can be produced immediately at the time of operation by
the operator can be displayed so that the operator can be surely
notified of that. As a result, the operator can choose between the
immediate label production in the form reduced to the length and
taking time to wait till the label of that length can be produced
when the operator wants to produce a label longer than the relevant
length, which widens the width of selection and improves
convenience.
[0406] Also, particularly in the second embodiment, when the label
production is finished, it is displayed that the label production
is finished without a waste after JOB allocation by outputting a
corresponding production end notice at Step S2287 so that the
operator can be notified.
[0407] Also, in the second embodiment, when the JOB is stored in
the non-volatile memory in the control circuit 2030, each label
length information corresponding to the accepted JOB can be surely
maintained even after the apparatus power is lost.
[0408] Also, particularly in the second embodiment, each tag-label
producing apparatus 2002 is capable of accepting the JOB from a
plurality of terminals 2005 through the communication line NW. At a
result, the JOB allocation can be carried out according to the
operation input not only from a single operator but also from a
plurality of operators. As a result, the effect to prevent wasting
of a tape at the label production can be shared by the plurality of
operators. Also, in this case, since production requests for more
various label lengths can be made than the case of operation input
by a single operator, the label production can be expedited as a
result.
[0409] In the above, a case was described that the RFID tag
information is transmitted to the RFID circuit element To and
writing is made in the IC circuit part 151 so as to produce the
RFID label Tt at the production of the RFID label Tt, but not
limited to this. That is, while the RFID tag information is read
out from the RFID circuit element To for read only in which
predetermined RFID tag information is stored/held unrewritably in
advance, the RFID label Tt may be produced by carrying out the
print corresponding to that. In this case, at Step S2210, it is
only necessary to read only the print information from the
information input from the terminal 2005 at Step S2205 and to
perform the reading processing of the RFID tag information at Step
S2270.
[0410] In the second embodiment, various variations are possible in
a range without departing from the gist and the technical idea. The
variations will be sequentially described below.
[0411] (2-1) When a Display Portion and an Operating Portion are
Provided on the Tag-Label Producing Apparatus Side:
[0412] That is, the function as the display portion of the display
2005a of the terminal 2005 and the function of the operating
portion 2005b described in the above may be exerted by the display
portion 2053 or the operation portion 2052 of the tag-label
producing apparatus 2002, respectively. In this case, various
display control signals output from the CPU 2005c to the display
2005a in the flow of FIG. 34 or the like are input by the
input/output interface 2031 and the control circuit 2030 of the
tag-label producing apparatus 2002 through the communication line
NW to the display portion 2053, and the corresponding display is
made. Also, various operation signals input from the operating
portion 2005b to the CPU 2005c in the above are input from the
operation portion 2052 of the tag-label producing apparatus 2002 to
the CPU 2005c of the terminal 2005 through the control circuit 2030
and the input/output interface 2031 of the tag-label producing
apparatus 2002 through the communication line NW, and corresponding
processing and controls are performed.
[0413] In this variation, too, the same effect as that of the
second embodiment can be obtained.
[0414] (2-2) When the Single Tag-Label Producing Apparatus is
Provided with all the Functions:
[0415] That is, not only the functions of the operating portion or
display portion (including the notifying portion) as in the
variation of the (2-1), but all the functions of the terminal 2005
of the second embodiment are provided at the tag-label producing
apparatus 2002 side (configured as so-called standalone type). FIG.
42 is a conceptual configuration diagram illustrating a detailed
structure of the tag-label producing apparatus 2002, from which the
input/output I/F is omitted from the structure shown in FIG. 24. In
this case, it is only necessary that the same control procedure as
that shown in FIGS. 34 and 35 executed by the CPU 2005c of the
terminal 2005 should be executed by the control circuit 2030 of the
tag-label producing apparatus 2002.
[0416] In this variation, too, particularly in an apparatus for
tag-label production by the apparatus alone not connected to the
other terminals or communication equipment through the network or
the like, the same effect as that of the second embodiment to
prevent wasting of a tape at the label production can be
obtained.
[0417] A third embodiment of the present disclosure will be
described below referring to FIGS. 43 to 46. In this embodiment,
too, by enabling production of an ordinary label using a margin
after the RFID label is produced, effective utilization of the
margin is promoted similarly to the second embodiment. The
equivalent portions to those in the first and the second
embodiments are given the same reference numerals, and the
description will be omitted or simplified as appropriate.
[0418] A tag-label producing apparatus 3002 of this embodiment is
provided at an RFID tag manufacturing system 3001 (tag-label
producing system) shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 23 similarly to
the second embodiment and constitutes a network. Since the detailed
structure is similar to that of the tag-label producing apparatus
2002 illustrated using FIGS. 24, 25, 26 and the like in the second
embodiment, the description will be omitted.
[0419] The tag-label producing apparatus 3002 of the third
embodiment can also accept a label production operation signal
("JOB") from the plurality of terminals 2005 similarly to the
tag-label producing apparatus 2002 in the second embodiment and is
provided with a function to produce the RFID label Tt or the
ordinary label Tu according to the label production operation
signal. That is, similarly to the above, after a predetermined
length of the base tape 101 has been consumed (or consumption is
scheduled) for producing the RFID label Tt by the label production
operation signal from one of the plurality of terminals 2005, if a
surplus portion is generated in the base tape 101, the label
production operation signal corresponding to the surplus length can
be newly accepted from any of the plurality of terminals 2005
(including the terminal 2005 concerned) so that the surplus portion
can be effectively utilized for production of the ordinary label
Tu.
[0420] Since the appearance and the sectional structure of the RFID
label Tt and the ordinary label Tu formed by completing information
writing of the RFID circuit element To and cutting of the tag-label
tape with print 110 in the tag-label producing apparatus 3002 in
this embodiment are the same as those shown in the above-mentioned
FIGS. 27 and 28, the description will be omitted.
[0421] Also, when the operation for producing the RFID label Tt and
the ordinary label Tu by the tag-label producing apparatus 3002 is
accepted from the plurality of terminals 2005, the information of
the label which can be currently produced displayed on the display
2005a of the terminal 2005 is also the same as that shown in FIG.
30 in the second embodiment, for example. That is, when the JOB is
accepted in the order of the terminal A, the terminal B and the
terminal C, the respective label lengths which can be currently
produced at each stage are displayed on the display 2005a of the
respective terminals using a substantially band-state image (such
as icons, marks, symbols and the like) corresponding to the label
length (See FIG. 30).
[0422] Similarly to the second embodiment, not limited to the case
where the label information which can be currently produced is
displayed as in FIG. 30, the history information (JOB which has
been already accepted) may be displayed (See FIG. 31). That is, as
shown above in FIG. 31, by displaying the JOB which has been
already accepted as "accepted state/history information" as history
information in the order from the top in the substantially
band-state image (the band length is changed in correspondence with
the progress of the history), the operator can easily sense and
recognize the progress of the allocation history (production
history in FIG. 44, which will be described later) by change of the
length of the substantially band-state image. Also, by displaying
the history information in this way, similarly to the second
embodiment, the production history information can be also
recognized with the label information which can be newly accepted,
which is changing (decreasing) according to the label production.
Therefore, the information amount which can be referred to in
effective utilization of the base tape 101 is increased, and
convenience can be improved.
[0423] Based on the above display, as the result that the JOB is
accepted for the tape length for one cycle sequentially from the
appropriate terminal 2005, the margin portion is used without a
waste, and each label production is executed. The display on the
display 2005a indicating that the label production is completed is
the same as that shown above in FIG. 32.
[0424] On the other hand, as described using FIG. 33 in the second
embodiment, the function to start producing a label before the
accepted JOB satisfies the tape length for one cycle (=forced
printing, the detail will be described later) can be also provided
in this embodiment. In this case, an inquiry if the forced printing
function is to be executed or not can be displayed on the display
2005a similarly to FIG. 33 of the second embodiment.
[0425] In this embodiment, the concept of the "forced printing" is
extended/applied, and rather than waiting for the label production
till the predetermined condition is met after each JOB has been
accepted as in the above-mentioned FIG. 30A to 30C and FIG. 31A,
but such a variation is possible that the label production is
executed for each JOB every time the JOB is accepted. That is, in
the tag-label producing apparatus 3002 in the variation, separately
from the mode that the label is produced in a lump sum when the
predetermined condition is met after acceptance of the JOB, a mode
(mode by JOB) that the label is produced for each JOB is provided
so that any of the modes can be selected/input by the operation of
the operating portion at each terminal 2005 (See Step S3100 of the
flow in FIG. 45, which will be described later).
[0426] FIGS. 43A, 43B, and 43C show views illustrating examples of
the label length display which can be newly accepted displayed on
the display 2005a of the terminals A, B, and C in this variation
and correspond to FIGS. 30A, 30B, and 30C, respectively.
[0427] First, FIG. 43A is an example of display on the display
2005a of the terminal A, indicating that the RFID label
(hereinafter referred to as label with tag as appropriate) Tt of
not longer than 20 cm (=substantially corresponding to the fixed
length L corresponding to the arrangement pitch of the RFID circuit
element To) can be produced, and a label with tag of the length up
to 20 cm can be produced from the terminal A.
[0428] FIG. 43B is a view illustrating a display example displayed
on the display 2005a of any of the terminals (the terminal B in
this example) after the JOB of the label with tag of 7 cm is
transmitted from the terminal A in the state of FIG. 43A (the label
production operation signal is output) and the label is produced.
By this display, the operator of the terminal B can recognize the
state that as the result that the JOB of the label with tag of 7 cm
is executed by the preceding operation from the terminal A, an
ordinary label Tu of not longer than 13 cm obtained from 20 cm-7 cm
(hereinafter referred to as label without tag as appropriate) can
be currently produced. Therefore, it is possible to produce a label
without tag of the length up to 13 cm from the terminal B at this
time.
[0429] FIG. 43C is a view showing a display example displayed on
the display 2005a of any of the terminals (terminal C in this
example) after the JOB of a label without tag of 8 cm is
transmitted from the terminal B in the state of FIG. 43B and the
label is produced. By this display, the operator of the terminal C
can recognize the state that as the result that the JOB of the
label without tag of 8 cm is executed by the preceding operation
from the terminal B, an ordinary label of not longer than 5 cm
obtained from 13 cm-8 cm can be currently produced. Therefore, it
is possible to produce a label without tag of the length up to 5 cm
from the terminal C at this time.
[0430] In the mode by JOB for executing label production every time
the JOB is accepted as above, the past production history
(=acceptance history) may be also displayed. FIG. 44 shows such a
variation. In this example, the already produced JOB is displayed
as history information in the order from the top as "production
history information", illustrating the state that the JOB of a
label with tag of 7 cm has been already produced and then, the JOB
of a label without tag of 8 cm is produced and now the JOB of a
label without tag of 5 cm can be accepted.
[0431] As mentioned above, the history information may be displayed
on the image display of a single label (depending on a method such
as superimposing) instead of displaying the label images in plural
stages in a time series.
[0432] The processing at the terminal 2005 and the tag-label
producing apparatus 3002 executed when the operator performs the
label production operation by the operating portion 2005b of the
terminal 2005 will be described below. In the above description, a
case was described that a plurality of JOBs is accepted in the
length of one cycle (the length substantially equal to the
arrangement pitch of the RFID circuit elements To) as the
predetermined length unit of the base tape 101, the predetermined
determination is made for the tape length for one cycle, and the
printing is carried out by the one cycle unit. In the following
flow, a case will be described that the plurality of JOBs is
accepted for the length of two cycles as the predetermined length
unit (the length substantially equal to twice of the arrangement
pitch of the RFID circuit element To), the predetermined
determination is made and the printing is carried out for one cycle
in them (however, excluding the case of the above-mentioned mode by
JOB).
[0433] FIG. 45 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure
executed by the CPU 2005c of the terminal 2005 and equivalent to
FIG. 34 in the second embodiment. The same reference numerals are
given to the equivalent procedures in FIG. 34 and the description
will be omitted or simplified.
[0434] In FIG. 45, when the operator performs the production
operation of a tag-label through the operating portion 2005b of the
appropriate terminal 2005, similarly to FIG. 34 of the second
embodiment, this flow is started. At this time, a flag indicating
whether it is in the lump-sum mode or the mode by JOB is
initialized to J=0.
[0435] First, at Step S3099, a mode selection signal input from the
operating portion 2005b of the terminal 2005 through the
communication line NW is determined if it is the mode by JOB or
not. If it is the mode by JOB, the determination is satisfied, the
flag J=1 is set at Step S3100 and then, the routine goes on to Step
S2101 similar to the second embodiment. If it is not the mode by
JOB (if it is the ordinary mode), the determination is not
satisfied, and the routine goes directly to Step S2101.
[0436] Steps S2101 to Step S2105 are the same as those in the
second embodiment. That is, an inquiry signal on the JOB allocation
information is output to the tag-label producing apparatus 3002, a
response signal is received, and the label information is displayed
on the display 2005a. After that, when the label production start
instruction signal is input, the JOB (label production operation
signal) is generated and output to the tag-label producing
apparatus 3002.
[0437] After that, at Step S3108, it is determined if the above
flag J=1 or not. In the case of the ordinary mode, it is J=0 and
the determination is not satisfied, and the routine goes on to Step
S2106 similarly to the second embodiment, and the receiving of the
printing completion information is determined. If the printing
completion information has been received, the determination is
satisfied, and the routine goes on to Step S2107 similarly to the
second embodiment.
[0438] On the other hand, at Step S3108, if the mode by JOB was
selected and J=1 (See Step S3100), the determination is satisfied,
and the routine goes on to Step S3109. At Step S3109, similarly to
Step S2106, it is determined if the printing completion information
corresponding to the JOB transmitted at Step S2105 was received
from the corresponding tag-label producing apparatus 3002 or not.
If the printing completion information is received, the
determination is satisfied and the routine goes on to Step
S2107.
[0439] At Step S2107, it is displayed on the display 2005a that the
printing of the tag-label has been completed similarly to the
second embodiment, and this flow is finished.
[0440] On the other hand, if there is no receiving of the printing
completion information at Step S2106, the determination is not
satisfied, and the routine goes on to Step S2111. Since steps S2111
to Step S2118 are the same as those in the second embodiment, the
description will be omitted. If the forced printing is not
instructed at Step S2115 and the determination is not satisfied,
the routine goes on to Step S2121 described in the second
embodiment using FIG. 35, and since steps Step S2121 to Step S2153
are also the same as those in the second embodiment, the
description will be omitted.
[0441] The control procedure executed by a control circuit 3030 of
the tag-label producing apparatus 3002 in response to the control
on the terminal 2005 side shown in FIGS. 45 and 35 is the same as
that described in the second embodiment using FIG. 36.
[0442] That is, after the procedure described at Step S2205 to Step
S2232 in FIG. 36 is executed, the JOB allocation information is
output to the operating portion 2005b at Step S2235. The state of
the allocation information at this time includes a label-length
display signal (including the above-mentioned recommended
information. Label-length display signal) for displaying the
label-length information which can be currently produced (can be
newly accepted) as mentioned above using FIG. 31B and the like, or
an allocation history display signal (See FIG. 31A and the like)
for displaying the JOB information which has been already accepted
or its history information may be output.
[0443] FIG. 46 is a flowchart illustrating the detail of the JOB
execution processing executed at Step S2230 in the above-mentioned
FIG. 36 executed by the control circuit 3030 of the tag-label
producing apparatus 3003 of this third embodiment and corresponds
to FIG. 37 of the second embodiment. In this JOB execution
processing, similarly to the above, the JOB accepted at the
tag-label producing apparatus 3002 (in detail, including the
above-mentioned JOB identification information, label length
information, RFID tag information identification signal and the
like. Hereinafter referred to simply as the "JOB" as appropriate)
is accepted up to two cycles in total of the label length
information required for each JOB (total length of the allocated
plurality of JOBs) and allocated. As the JOB for two cycles at the
maximum is allocated and every time a predetermined condition is
satisfied (if the total of the label length information by the JOB
of a label with tag and the label length information by the JOB
without tag becomes one cycle, for example), printing for one cycle
is started. A tape for one cycle includes a single RFID circuit
element To, and the length from this RFID circuit element To the
RFID circuit element To arranged next (arrangement pitch) becomes
the tape length for one cycle. Therefore, the tape for one cycle
can produce at least a single label with tag, and if there is a
surplus portion, it is possible to produce a label without tag in
the remaining tape portion.
[0444] FIG. 46 is a control procedure of the flow shown in FIG. 37
to which Step S3299 and Step S2500 are newly added. That is, first
at Step S3299, it is determined if it is the above-mentioned flag
indicating the mode J=1 or not. If the mode by JOB has been
selected, it is J=1, and the determination is satisfied. And the
routine goes on to Step S2500 (See the above-mentioned FIG. 40),
the label production processing relating to the JOB is executed and
then, the routine returns to the flow in FIG. 36. If the ordinary
mode has been selected, it is J=0, and the determination at Step
S3299 is not satisfied and the routine returns to Step S2300
similarly to FIG. 37.
[0445] Since Step S3200 to Step S2350 are the same as in FIG. 37
(including transfer to FIGS. 38 and 39), the description will be
omitted.
[0446] As mentioned above, in the tag-label producing apparatus
3002 of this third embodiment, the JOB for producing the RFID label
Tt or the ordinary label Tu in response to the operation input by
the operator in each of the operation terminals 2005 is input and
accepted by the control circuit 3030 side of the tag-label
producing apparatus 3002 (See Step S2210). Then, (either in the
ordinary mode or the mode by JOB, in the end) at Step S2500, an
instruction signal for instructing label production is generated,
the base tape 101 provided with the RFID circuit element To is fed,
predetermined print is carried out by the print head 2010 on the
cover film 103 (in the case of the RFID label Tt, information
transmission/reception is further performedbytheantenna2014), and
the labels Tt, Tu are produced.
[0447] At this time, by generating a label-length display signal at
Step S2235 in the third embodiment, the label length information
which can be newly accepted is displayed on the display 2005a of
the terminal 2005, which is the display portion outside the
apparatus (See Step S2103 and the like). Therefore, if a surplus
portion of the base tape 101 is generated after the predetermined
label length in the base tape 101 has been consumed (or consumption
is scheduled) for producing the RFID label Tt, the surplus length
portion is displayed as newly acceptable to have the operator
recognize it (See FIGS. 30, 31, 43, and 44). Then, the operator can
effectively utilize the surplus portion for ordinary label
production without wasting it.
[0448] Also, particularly in the third embodiment, the label length
information corresponding to the JOB accepted at Step S2210 is
sequentially allocated together with the JOB identification
information and the RFID tag information identification signal in a
predetermined order at Step S2220, and according to the allocation
state, the label length is displayed at Step S2103 and the like. At
a result, the operator can recognize the label length information
which can be newly accepted and is changing according to the
allocation, and can perform allocation for the label production by
further operation input by the operating portion 2005b according to
this. Then, according to the allocation state, the label production
is executed at Step S2500.
[0449] When a surplus portion is generated in the base tape 101
after allocation of the label length information of the RFID label
in this way, if the operator can recognize this as the label length
information which can be accepted, at least one piece of the label
length information of the ordinary label Tu can be allocated to the
surplus length portion, and the surplus portion can be effectively
utilized without a waste.
[0450] Also, particularly in the third embodiment, in the mode by
JOB, the label production is executed for each JOB at Step S2500
moved from the Step S3299 in correspondence to the JOB accepted at
Step S2210. At this time, the operator can recognize the label
length information which can be newly accepted and is changing
(decreasing) according to the label production (See FIGS. 43 and
44) and can perform the label production operation by further
operation input through the operating portion 2005b as appropriate
according to this.
[0451] At a result, similarly to the ordinary mode, when a surplus
portion is generated in the base tape 101 after production of the
RFID label Tt, if the operator can recognize this as the acceptable
label length information, the surplus length portion can be used
for production of at least the ordinary label Tu, by which the
surplus portion can be effectively utilized without waste.
[0452] Also, particularly in the third embodiment, when the label
production is finished, by outputting a corresponding production
end notice at Step S2287, completion of the label production
without waste after the JOB allocation can be displayed and
notified to the operator.
[0453] Also, particularly in the third embodiment, each tag-label
producing apparatus 3002 can accept the JOB from the plurality of
terminals 2005 through the communication line NW. At a result, JOB
allocation can be performed not only from a single operator but
from a plurality of operators. As a result, the effect to prevent
wasting of a tape at the label production can be shared by the
plurality of operators. Also, in this case, since there can be
diversified requests for production with more various label lengths
as compared with the case of the operation input by a single
operator, label production can be expedited as a result.
[0454] In the above, a case was described that the RFID tag
information is transmitted to the RFID circuit element To at
production of the RFID label Tt for performing writing in the IC
circuit part 151 so as to produce the RFID label Tt, but not
limited to this. That is, while the RFID tag information is read
out from the RFID circuit element To for read only in which
predetermined RFID tag information is stored/held unrewritably in
advance, the RFID label Tt may be produced by carrying out the
print corresponding to that. In this case, at Step S2210, it is
only necessary to read only the print information from the
information input from the terminal 2005 at Step S2205 and to
perform the reading processing of the RFID tag information at Step
S2270.
[0455] It is to be noted that in the third embodiment, various
variations are possible in a range without departing from the gist
and the technical idea. The variations will be sequentially
described below.
[0456] (3-1) When a Display Portion and an Operating Portion are
Provided on the Tag-Label Producing Apparatus Side:
[0457] That is, the function as the display portion of the display
2005a of the terminal 2005 and the function of the operating
portion 2005b described in the above may be exerted by the display
portion 2053 or the operation portion 2052 of the tag-label
producing apparatus 3002, respectively. In this case, various
display control signals output from the CPU 2005c to the display
2005a in the flow of FIG. 45 or the like are input by the
input/output interface 2031 and the control circuit 3030 of the
tag-label producing apparatus 3002 through the communication line
NW to the display portion 2053, and the corresponding display is
made. Also, various operation signals input from the operating
portion 2005b to the CPU 2005c in the above are input from the
operation portion 2052 of the tag-label producing apparatus 3002 to
the CPU 2005c of the terminal 2005 through the control circuit 3030
and the input/output interface 2031 of the tag-label producing
apparatus 3002 through the communication line NW, and corresponding
processing and controls are performed.
[0458] In this variation, too, the same effect as that of the above
embodiment can be obtained.
[0459] (3-2) When the Single Tag-Label Producing Apparatus is
Provided with all the Functions:
[0460] That is, not only the functions of the operating portion or
display portion (including the notifying portion) as in the
variation of the (3-1), but all the functions of the terminal 2005
of the above embodiment are provided at the tag-label producing
apparatus 3002 side (configured as so-called standalone type). The
detailed structure of the tag-label producing apparatus 3002 is the
same as that shown in FIG. 42 in the above second embodiment. In
this case, it is only necessary that the same control procedure as
the control procedure shown in FIGS. 45 and 35 executed by the CPU
2005c of the terminal 2005 should be executed by the control
circuit 3030 of the tag-label producing apparatus 3002.
[0461] In this variation, too, particularly in an apparatus for tag
production by the apparatus alone not connected to the other
terminals or communication equipment through the network or the
like, the same effect as that of the third embodiment to prevent
wasting of a tape at the label production can be obtained.
[0462] (4) Others
[0463] (4-A) When the Tape is not to be Bonded:
[0464] That is, instead of carrying out the print oh the cover film
103 different from the base tape 101 provided with the RFID circuit
element To and bonding them together as in the second and the third
embodiments, the present disclosure is applied to a tag-label
producing apparatus for carrying out print on the cover film
provided at the tag tape. In this case, a thermal tape can be used
as the tape (The RFID circuit element To is installed on the
thermal tape to be used as a tape corresponding to the base tape).
In this case, the thermal tape constitutes the tag tape described
in each claim, and the thermal layer constitutes a print-receiving
medium layer.
[0465] In this variation, too, the same effect as that of the
second and third embodiments and their variations can be
obtained.
[0466] (4-B) Other Tape Forms:
[0467] In the above, a case was described that the base tape or the
thermal tape is wound around the reel member to constitute a roll,
and the roll is arranged within the cartridge 7, 71, 7'', and 2100,
from which the tape is fed out, but not limited to this. A lengthy
flat sheet or strip state tape or sheet (including those formed by
cutting it to an appropriate length after the tape wound around a
roll is fed out. Also, the RFID circuit element To is arranged on
that corresponding to the base tape 101) is stacked in a
predetermined storage portion to be made into a cartridge, and the
cartridge may be mounted to a cartridge holder portion of tag-label
producing apparatus 1, 2002, 3002 side to be transferred/fed from
the storage portion for print and writing so as to form the labels
T, Tt, Tu.
[0468] Moreover, not even limited to the cartridge type, it may be
so configured that the roll is directly mounted to the tag-label
producing apparatus 1, 2002, 3002, or the lengthy flat sheet or
strip state tape or sheet is transferred from outside the tag-label
producing apparatus 1, 2002, 3002 one by one and supplied to the
tag-label producing apparatus 1, 2002, 3002. In these cases, by
obtaining the tape attribute parameter information of the tape
(including a sheet) on the apparatus side by means of some known
way such as a contact type, optical type, wireless communication
type or the like, the same effect as that in the first, the second
and the third embodiments and their variations can be obtained.
[0469] In the above, a case was described that the RFID tag
information is transmitted to the RFID circuit element To and
writing is made in the IC circuit part 151 so as to form the RFID
label T, Tt, but not limited to this. That is, the present
disclosure can be applied to a case that while the RFID tag
information is read out from the RFID circuit element To for read
only in which predetermined RFID tag information is stored/held
unrewritably in advance, the RFID label T, Tt is produced by
carrying out the print corresponding to that. In this case, too,
the same effect as that in the first, the second and the third
embodiments can be obtained.
[0470] Other than those mentioned above, methods of the first to
the third embodiments and their variations may be combined as
appropriate for use.
[0471] The "Scroll All ID" signal, the "Verify" signal, the
"Program" signal and the like used in the above shall comply with
the specification formulated by EPC global. The EPC global is a
non-profit corporation jointly established by International EAN
Association, which is an international organization of distribution
codes, and UCC (Uniformed Code Council), which is an U.S.
distribution code organization. Signals complying with other
standards will do as long as they serve the same functions.
[0472] Though not specifically exemplified, the present disclosure
should be put into practice with various changes made in a range
not departing from its gist.
* * * * *